A significant UFC figure recently revealed that his unexpected appearance on RAW was arranged hastily.
The collaboration between WWE and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) under TKO Group Holdings has opened new avenues for cross-promotion between the two organizations.
Following TKO Group Holdings’ merger with UFC’s parent company, Endeavor, last September, the stage was set for unique opportunities. UFC 298, held at Honda Center in Anaheim, was followed by a RAW episode at the same venue merely two days later.
UFC star Michael Chandler made a surprise appearance on Monday Night RAW, where he issued a challenge to Conor McGregor.
Speaking on the MMA Hour show with Ariel Helwani, Chandler disclosed that his on-screen confrontation was improvised at the eleventh hour. He recounted being given the microphone moments before going live and delivering his promo on the red brand.
Despite the impromptu nature of the segment, Chandler described the experience as magical.
“Just two minutes before, they said, ‘Hey, they’re going to put the camera on you.’ I said, ‘Why don’t you give me that microphone?’ … Then about a minute later, they said, ‘Hey, you’re going on in a minute and you’re going to get the microphone if you want the microphone,’ and then magic happened. Less than five minutes [of notice]. There was nothing prepared. Nothing. I was thrown into the fire. Smacked myself a couple of times and then we went.”
Veteran wrestling journalist Bill Apter lauded Michael Chandler’s bold move of calling out Conor McGregor during his appearance on RAW.
Speaking on The Wrestling Time Machine podcast, Apter applauded TKO Group Holding’s initiative to cross-promote their products. He emphasized that this strategic move could attract WWE fans to explore UFC, potentially broadening the viewer base for both organizations.
“Regarding the UFC thing, it was great because TKO, this is their first shot at cross-promoting their two products, and making it very visible. So there’s a lot of people who may not watch UFC, who might now out of curiosity say, ‘Man, this guy is furious. I wanna take a look at him.’… Brilliant idea.”
As WWE heads towards WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, fans eagerly anticipate more surprises and collaborations between the two powerhouse sports entertainment entities. Do you think more UFC stars should make appearances on WWE television?
