UFC President Dana White loves a good fight, and nothing seems to excite him more lately than chasing online pirates who illegally broadcast UFC events.
Prior to UFC 257 on Saturday night, White had personally directed a particular streamer who really teased him on social media after his statement that he was closing illegal streams for the event with Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 2.
White said before the event that not only was the person who threatened to transmit the card identified, but said authorities were waiting to attack the illegal transmission if the service went live on the night of the fight.
After Poirier’s second round knockout against McGregor to close the UFC’s first pay-per-view in 2021, White offered an update on his ongoing war.
“Let me tell you this story,” he said during the UFC 257 post-fight press conference. “At night, I think I did an interview with BT [Sport] and then I think you asked me at the press conference and I basically said this is what is going to happen. I told you that we found the guy and we were looking at him.
“He released a statement that night, saying ‘I won’t be broadcasting McGregor vs. Poirier, but I will show you how to buy it legally ‘and released this huge statement. Now, all of your streaming service has been deleted and gone. Disappeared. One down and sh * t charge to go. I’m ready.”
In the past few weeks, White has renewed his new mission to pursue anyone who illegally hacks UFC events. But this particular card sparked his interest because UFC 257 was expected to be one of the biggest cards of the year.
At the post-fight press conference, he said the event will likely be considered one of the two biggest pay-per-views in UFC history.
When it comes to deterring other online pirates from program theft, the UFC president promises to take an interest in one particular person at each event, while trying to set an example for anyone trying to hijack his broadcast.
“Every event I’m going to go after one of these guys.” White said. “One of these or more, we will see.
“And who are you the guy who did it, good move, we had you, friend. I don’t know if he knew or anything, but we had you. All you had to do was open that stream and you would be in trouble. He did the right thing. “