Behind the Scenes at UFC 300: How ESPN’s Stats and Information Group Helps Enhance Your Fight Night Experience
Learn how ESPN's UFC data wizards are preparing for covering the best fight card in MMA history, what the biggest challenges are, and more
Amidst the anticipation of every UFC event, a special team at ESPN — ESPN’s Stats & Information Group (SIG) — is hard at work behind the scenes orchestrating a symphony of data to enhance the viewer experience for the many fans worldwide.
Part of that process is an internal SIG Portal filled with notes, storylines, and graphics for digital, social media, and any shows to use during PPV weeks, which gives ESPN the detailed, insightful storytelling its fans demand.
That seemingly seamless coverage will be on display as UFC 300: Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill (Saturday, exclusively on ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET) unfolds from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
It might seem natural for fans to experience the event in real time, but ESPN’s SIG works tirelessly on the backend.
This includes real-time Slack channels buzzing with updates, feeding crucial notes into the fray that lead to graphics for UFC-branded shows, creating engaging collaboration with talent, and reviews on reviews of materials to ensure no detail is overlooked.
Additionally, SIG and the UFC stats teams collaborate seamlessly during events, ensuring data flow and integrity. Together, they ingest live UFC statistics into ESPN’s Fightcenter in real time. The two sides also work closely on maintaining historical databases, exchanging insights, and sharing resources like biographical information, enriching the UFC coverage across ESPN platforms and maximizing the fan experience.
It’s truly a collaborative masterpiece, and as ESPN SIG senior director Patrick Caulfield said via email in early April, “There isn’t a way we achieve what we do on our UFC property without SIG folks.”
Front Row asked ESPN senior researcher Andrew Davis, who is on-site at many PPV fights, for his team’s approach to UFC 300 and more.
What can you share that SIG is doing special for UFC 300?
Because of how good this card is in terms of talent, every fight will be treated like it’s a main event fight.
What is the biggest challenge for you and the SIG team with UFC events?
Unlike many of the other pro sports, we never know when a UFC fight will end or how it will end. That makes it challenging for SIG — and our UFC on ESPN team as a whole — because you must be ready for anything at any moment.
What is the most meaningful aspect of your UFC work?
It’s been amazing to see the growth of the product since we became the home of the UFC in 2019. We’ve been fortunate as a company to win the World MMA Award for Media Source of the Year four years running, which is a fan-voted award. So, to know that the fans of the UFC and ESPN appreciate our work is very gratifying.
