• Golden Globes producers are defending that random UFC promo ahead of Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams taking the stage on Sunday night.
  • The UFC fighters were presented as "extra security" and fans were baffled by the choice.
  • The explanation? "We were creating this party atmosphere."

Heated Rivalry stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams presented at the Golden Globes on Sunday and it was perfection. You know, once they actually got on stage following UFC fighters inexplicably showing up as their "extra security"—a very random choice that served to promote the UFC's relationship with CBS/Paramount+ and got plenty of backlash.

Deadline spoke to executive producers Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss about the moment, and Kirshner said "I’ll say this. We were creating this party atmosphere. We were trying to not just present everything as traditional award shows would present them, maybe taking a few attention-grabbing moments and all, and UFC is obviously entering a new thing with CBS and Paramount+, so they’re all partners. So we basically decided to take two elements that are kind of hot right now, the Heated Rivalry, it’s insane what kind of attention it’s getting right now, to juxtapose it with that and create this moment together, we thought it was a fun little moment."

Meanwhile, Deadline straight-up asked "You liked it the way it played out?" (iconic) and Weiss said "I think we’re getting more questions about it than anything else. So it got attention, right?"

That's one way to put it!