White raves about ESPN deal, admits 'TUF' could be on last season

While full details of the UFC's new exclusive broadcast deal with ESPN are still slipping out to the public, Dana White knows enough to be ecstatic.

The UFC president is bothered by media and fans trying to gauge if the deal is favorable for the promotion, broadcaster, and/or fanbase. In his mind, the money is all you need to know to make a judgment.

"That's what the idiots are always going to do. 'Is it good, is it bad?'" White told MMAjunkie on Saturday. "Our last deal (with FOX) was $116 million a year. This one is $300 million. If you can't figure out that that's good, get outta here. I've been in Maine blowing my brains out for three days celebrating. That's how good it is."

The new deal will see UFC content shown on ESPN's television networks and new online platform ESPN+. White confirmed Saturday that the overall number of cards will increase, the breakdown including 10 televised cards, 20 online cards, and 12 on pay-per-view.

"That's exactly right: 42 shows," White said. "I have the ability to make some original content for those guys too, and it's going to be awesome. ESPN wouldn't cover us; now we're on ESPN. Anybody who doesn't think this is a win, just shut up. Stop covering the sport if you think this isn't a win."

He confirmed the UFC Fight Pass will remain as a library and continue to serve viewers outside the U.S., who will not have access to ESPN+.

White added that, after 29 seasons, "The Ultimate Fighter" could be coming to a halt. The UFC has begun looking for men's heavyweights and women's featherweights for next season, which will finish in 2018, but he admits "it might be the last one."

There has been no mention of the show in ESPN's official releases and the program's ratings have declined in recent years. The show was once credited for saving the company with its first season in 2005 but has failed to produce stars and attract attention at the pace it once did.