UFC signs wide-ranging sponsorship deal with Meta, bringing Mark Zuckerberg closer to Dana White

Core Insights - TKO Group's UFC has entered a multimillion-dollar, multi-year partnership with Meta, enhancing the integration of the mixed martial arts league with Meta's technology portfolio [1] - Meta will serve as the "official fan technology partner" of UFC, featuring its branding in UFC's Octagon ring during pay-per-view and "Fight Night" events [2] - The partnership is distinct from UFC's ongoing media rights negotiations, which are set to begin later in April [3] Group 1 - The collaboration with Meta began discussions in the second half of 2024, with UFC recognizing Meta's potential to meet its needs [4] - Meta will be designated as UFC's official marketing partner, AI glasses partner, wearable partner, and social media partner, indicating a significant investment in UFC's ecosystem [5] - Exclusive UFC content will be featured on Meta's Threads platform, with plans for further announcements in the coming months, including a new UFC fighter rankings system utilizing Meta technology [5]