When it comes to promoting and marketing an event, UFC 189 has arguably been the most expensive show the UFC has ever done. The loss of its big headlining bout between featherweight champion Jose Aldo and brash challenger Conor McGregor was without a doubt a big hit for the promotion. But on the financial side, the UFC still seems to be very optimistic, even with the new main event fight between McGregor and Chad Mendes for the interim belt.
“We’re adding seats and when we do, they fly right out the door,” White told Yahoo Sports. “We’ve barely had any refunds and the ones we’ve had, as soon as we’ve gotten the tickets and put them back in the system, they’re scooped right up.”
According to White, only 50 people asked for refunds after Aldo pulled out of the fight. The UFC expects a record-setting attendance in the MGM Grand Garden Arena of over 16,000 and a paid live gate of over $7 million. This would be a promotional record in the United States.
The largest MMA live gate in the US to date has been the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen at UFC 148, also in the MGM Grand, that did $6.9 million, according to the Nevada Athletic Commission.
White didn’t want to speculate on the pay-per-view numbers yet. He’d rather wait until Tuesday next week, where PPV providers will have a more accurate forecast on the sales figures, before he will make any comments about wether the event has been a success or not.
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