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Sportswashing Spyware: Why is the UFC promoting an AI company behind an alleged UAE spy app?

When UFC President Dana White arrived on stage for the UFC 257 ceremonial weigh-in at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, he did so wearing a black t-shirt emblazoned with a minimalist red-and-white logo that read “G42.”

After years of wearing UFC branded gear and plain polo shirts, White’s latest clothing choice did not go unnoticed.

“Great to see [Dana White]…in G42 gear at the UFC 257 event presentation today…,” tweeted Group 42, an Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence company founded in 2018 that is also one of the main sponsors of the latest iteration of UFC Fight Island.