ATLANTA — If you closed your eyes and listened to UFC president Dana White speak about Saturday’s debut on ESPN+ as the exclusive provider of UFC pay-per-view events, you’d almost think you were listening to a sound clip from about a decade ago. Back then, White was pitching the idea of the up-and-coming UFC as a mainstream sport, something that sounded farfetched even as the company grew by leaps and bounds. But White had that old evangelical zeal in his voice as he spoke of the company’s relationship with ESPN, a seven-year deal which started out as a five-year deal just a few months back and has already been extended for two more years. Related UFC 236 staff predictions: Who takes the two interim titles in Atlanta? UFC 236: 8 burning questions around Holloway-Poirier, Gastelum-Adesanya title fights UFC 236 video: Holloway-Poirier, Gastelum-Adesanya get face-to-face one last time before fights Saturday’s UFC 236 at State Farm Arena marks the start of the ESPN PPV era. “I’m telling you, all the things we’ve accomplished in the last 20 years, wait until you see what we do in the next two or three,” an enthusiastic White told reporters, including MMA Junkie, following today’s UFC 236 ceremonial weigh-ins
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Dana White confident ESPN’s first UFC pay-per-view will run smooth – MMA Junkie