Fans react to the UFC selling octagon spots for $1000

The UFC is the biggest and most popular MMA promotion in the world, and an organization of that size often needs to offer its fans some unique experiences. While the promotion usually navigates the marketing and publicity part of the business, it seems fans aren't too pleased about their new offering to fans.

Fans have been offered the opportunity to have their names hand-painted on the octagon canvas for a pay-per-view event, which will then be cut out and framed for $1000. UFC announced this by tweeting an advertising video, which led to fans expressing their disappointment in the comment section.

One fan expressed their dismay at the UFC's constant "money grabbing" and wrote:

"The money grab just never stops...."

Another fan sarcastically referenced the fighters' ban from self-sponsorship display and wrote:

"Lol. God forbid the fighters have their own sponsors on their shorts."

Another user asked:

"Does Dana have like gambling debts or something we don’t know about?"

One user opined:

"This is pretty embarrassing when 50% of your fighters are on 10/10."

One fan jokingly asked:

How much to get it tattooed across a fighter's stomach. Money isn't an issue."

One fan shared a meme captioned:

"A thousand dollars."

Another user asked:

"Where is this $1000 going to? Dana’s pocket?"

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UFC updates: Will the promotion have a new CEO post-WWE merger?

It was recently reported that Ari Emanuel’s Endeavor Group, which also owns the UFC, has acquired a majority stake in Vince McMahon's wrestling organization WWE.

The Endeavor Group will reportedly merge the two companies into one publicly traded company worth $21 billion+. The company will own 51% shares of the WWE, while existing shareholders would retain 49%. The Endeavor-WWE deal also valued the MMA promotion at $12 billion, which is triple the amount at which Endeavor acquired it in 2016.

Since the news broke, many have wondered if there will be a management shuffle post the deal. While both promotions will have the same parent company, the respective heads of these organizations, Dana White and Vince McMahon, will have full creative control over their businesses.

In a recent interview with CNBC, Endeavor's CEO Ari Emmanuel cleared the air surrounding the merger:

"Here’s what we said... If we disagree on something that we want to do, guess what? We’re not doing it.... It’s the relationship that I have with Dana. Dana’s got the say as it relates to the UFC, Vince as it relates to the WWE. He’s going to have a say. We have nothing to do with the creative process. That’s Vince’s and that’s Dana’s situation."