“Dana made UFC a brand,” Berlanga said to TMZ Sport. “He understands how to market. He understands how to build fighters. He understands fighters that’s superstars.”
Berlanga said Dana’s approach goes beyond what happens on fight night and focuses on building a fighter’s profile outside the ring as well.
The unbeaten Brooklyn native said his job is to keep winning and producing knockouts while allowing his profile to grow into other areas of entertainment.
“I said, ‘Yo, Dana, man, I’m going to do my job,’” Berlanga said. “I’mma win. I’mma look good. I’mma catch these knockouts and continue to build my brand.”
Berlanga believes expanding his name beyond boxing is critical to maximizing his career.
“That’s very important for us,” he said. “That brings in much more money, much more eyes, and it just makes you whole.”
The 28-year-old also revealed he has ambitions outside the ring. He said he enjoys professional wrestling and acting, adding that he was originally set to appear in Creed III before a torn biceps forced him to undergo surgery and cost him the role.
Berlanga even floated the possibility of eventually making a WWE appearance, saying that becoming a crossover entertainer fits the long-term vision he has for his career.
Edgar’s brand won’t be rebuilt by knocking over another series of carefully selected opponents. That’s the path Top Rank took during the early years of his career, matching him against modest opposition while promoting his first-round knockout streak. The approach generated hype, but many fans questioned the quality of the competition, and those questions resurfaced when Berlanga began facing world-class opponents.
If Dana White wants Berlanga to become a mainstream attraction, the long-term answer is unlikely to be more “tomato cans.” Mainstream stars in combat sports are generally built by defeating credible opponents in meaningful fights. If Zuffa leans too heavily on protective matchmaking, it risks recreating the same formula that critics say limited Berlanga’s credibility in the first place.
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