Video: Ariana Grande lampoons UFC history as Celine Dion in brilliant SNL sketch

Ariana Grande | @nbcsnl, Twitter

Ariana Grande, Celine Dion, and the UFC. What could they possibly have in common?

The funny folks at Saturday Night Live answered that question this weekend with a hilarious sketch in which Grande lampooned her fellow superstar singer’s recent promo for Sunday Night Football. This time, however, Grande’s version of Celine Dion employed her legendary vocals to honor another enduring American institution: The UFC.

Watch the sketch below, which also doubled as a sly advertisement for UFC 308 on Oct. 26.

Celine Dion Sports Promo pic.twitter.com/xvBo0EtrkR

— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) October 13, 2024

Referencing Dion’s classic ballad It’s All Coming Back to Me Now (as Dion did in her NFL tribute), Grande paid homage to moments in UFC history that every fight fan would agree agree are unforgettable—for better or for worse.

“There was breaking of bones and there were knees to the balls,” Grande sang, before also poking fun at Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Mike Perry.

Even cageside commentators Daniel Cormier, Joe Rogan, and Jon Anik weren’t safe, as Grande cracked, “Dozens of commentators. All bald and in the shiniest of shirts.”

The most biting line of all might have been Grande noting the damage that MMA fighters take, saying, “It’s all coming back to me, though maybe not to them because of the concussions, no?”

After this, you’ll never look at Keith Hackney repeatedly punching Joe Son in the groin the same way again, that’s for sure.