Netflix Missed Out on a Massive $7.7 Billion UFC Deal, but It Kept the Rights to a Behind-the-Scenes Dana White Project Heading to Screens in 2027

Netflix may have watched Paramount walk away with a massive 7-year, $7.7 billion media rights and streaming package for the UFC, but the platform secured a major prize of its own: an all-access, untitled documentary tracking combat sports kingpin Dana White. The long-form project is officially moving forward and is slated to stream in the first quarter of 2027.

The production originally materialized as an adjunct piece of programming when Netflix was on the verge of securing full live streaming rights to UFC events. Even after the live bouts slipped away to a competitor, the documentary unit kept rolling.

From Sin City History to a Multi-Billion-Dollar Fight Empire

Filmmaker Gotham Chopra is directing the feature, which took an unexpected creative turn during its development phase.

The project was originally conceived as a documentary about Las Vegas, but evolved into a story about the 57-year-old promoter.

The narrative centers squarely on White’s historic business gamble. In 2001, White convinced casino executives Frank Fertitta and Lorenzo Fertitta to buy the struggling mixed martial arts outfit for just $2 million.

That modest bet paid off exponentially. Just 15 years later, the Fertitta brothers and White orchestrated a blockbuster sale to a consortium led by Endeavor for a staggering $4 billion.

Gotham Chopra speaks into a microphone while holding a water bottle.

Unprecedented Access and Landmark Fight Cards

Chopra, who declined to comment on the production, has gathered a wide spectrum of recent, high-profile material to anchor the film’s runtime.

The documentary will feature coverage of the historic UFC Freedom 250 fight card, which staged live octagon action directly on the South Lawn of the White House.

Viewers will also see the ground-level formation of Zuffa Boxing, an ambitious standalone venture launched jointly by White and high-ranking Saudi government official Turki Alalshikh.

The Streaming Rights Tug-of-War

A widespread assumption across the sports media industry was that Netflix would abandon its mixed martial arts pipeline entirely after failing to lock down live events. Instead, the streaming giant doubled down on character-driven storytelling.

Greenlit under former Netflix content chief Bela Bajaria, the production proves that premium sports profiles remain a strategic priority even when direct broadcast rights land elsewhere.

With cameras already capturing everything from White House spectacles to international boxing ventures, the feature aims to provide an unvarnished look at how modern fight promotion operates behind closed doors.

📱 Streaming platforms continue to lean heavily into high-stakes sports docuseries to keep audiences hooked between major live events.

✨ From a $2 million turnaround to South Lawn fight cards, White’s business trajectory remains one of the most unconventional executive stories in sports history.

💬 Will you be tuning in when the doc lands on Netflix? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and share your take on this streaming showdown.