A UFC fighter has voiced his disapproval of the organization’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence for its promotional materials. This sentiment mirrors a growing dissatisfaction among fans who have previously criticized the UFC’s promotion strategies when compared to the more polished presentations of boxing events.
As AI technology advances, the UFC appears to be integrating it significantly into content creation. A prime example of this shift was the teaser for UFC Freedom 250, an event scheduled to be held at the White House. This promo, largely generated by AI, quickly ignited discussions within the fan community.
Despite ongoing backlash from fans, UFC President Dana White and chief content officer Craig Borsari have indicated the company’s intention to further utilize AI and similar technologies. White himself addressed the criticism by stating, “Shut the f*ck up and watch the fights.”
Renato Moicano Slams UFC’s AI Promos
However, UFC fighter Renato Moicano holds a different perspective, asserting that the promotion’s move towards AI-generated content is a disservice to the UFC fanbase. During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Moicano specifically criticized the AI-generated promo for the UFC White House event. He argued that a promotion generating substantial revenue should prioritize high-quality production over machine-generated videos, which he believes do not meet fan expectations.
“The UFC will likely not be pleased with me saying this, but I did not like it,” Moicano stated. “I believe it is disrespectful to the fans, as I am a fan myself. If you cannot put fighters like Alex Pereira or Ilia Topuria on a plane and bring them to Washington, D.C., to be in front of the White House, I don’t think that’s good. I consider it sloppy. I do not like using AI for my personal work. I’m not saying AI isn’t helpful, and I do use it for some things. But not for content creation. I feel people can discern that it’s just sloppy. That is brain rot.”
