Leading into the fight, Jake Paul had some early success, landing several punches in the opening rounds. However, Joshua’s experience soon took over, and the former heavyweight champion dominated the latter half of the bout, highlighting the significant skill gap between the two fighters.

White, speaking to Complex News, expressed disbelief that the fight was sanctioned at all. “It’s crazy that that fight was even allowed to happen. Crazy,” he said. The UFC President emphasized that while Paul has an impressive record in his 14 professional bouts, facing an Olympic gold medalist and two-time heavyweight champion was a clear mismatch.

Was Jake Paul set up for failure against Joshua?

White criticized the decision to even stage the fight, noting the inherent risk and disparity in experience. “To even comment on it, I think everybody that was involved in that thing should be embarrassed, number one. And number two, it’s just not what I am into,” he said.

Despite the loss, White acknowledged that Paul could continue fighting as long as the audience and promoters support him. “I mean, I don’t know. As long as people keep wanting to pay and watch him fight, I guess he can keep doing it. It’s just not what I do,” White added.

Paul’s recovery

Following the defeat, Paul suffered a broken jaw and remains in recovery, currently suspended from competition. Joshua’s dominant performance reinforced his standing as one of boxing’s elite, while Paul faces uncertainty about his future in professional boxing.

Oscar De La Hoya, the longtime boxing icon and promoter, wasted no time reigniting his feud with UFC president Dana White. The comments came just days after Crawford’s shocking upset, underscoring De La Hoya’s ongoing frustration with both White and Alvarez.

During a fiery statement, De La Hoya criticized White’s promotional approach and questioned Alvarez’s legacy, suggesting that many of his high-profile victories were “fluff” and that the only serious opponents he faced—Floyd Mayweather, Dmitry Bivol, and Crawford—all outclassed him.

De La Hoya targets Dana White and Canelo

“I promoted Canelo’s entire career and it was a huge fluff,” De La Hoya said via Instagram. “The only real fighters he’s faced were Mayweather, Bivol, and Crawford, and they all toyed with him.”

He didn’t stop at Alvarez. De La Hoya mocked White’s appearance and questioned his accountability when discussing the Muhammad Ali Act, adding: “Dana White didn’t have his best week, his t-shirt shrank smaller every minute, especially when he was questioned about his attempt to amend the Muhammad Ali Act… TKO needs it to change so they can f— fighters over.”

According to De La Hoya, White even skipped much of the undercard on fight night, showing up only for the main event while reportedly watching UFC on his phone. “After this debacle, he decides to skip the undercard and shows up in the beginning of the main event… Dana, Canelo, f— you,” De La Hoya concluded.

History of the White–De La Hoya feud

De La Hoya and White’s tension is longstanding, often erupting over fighter pay, promotional practices, and the dynamics between boxing and MMA. Their rivalry escalated publicly in 2017 when White promoted the crossover fight Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor, which De La Hoya vocally opposed.

Despite De La Hoya’s tirade, White has yet to respond directly. Over recent weeks, he has defended the UFC’s growth and star power, citing record business performance and a landmark $7.7 billion TV deal designed to reshape the promotion’s broadcast future.

As the boxing and MMA worlds digest Crawford’s stunning victory, the feud between De La Hoya, White, and Canelo adds yet another layer of intrigue. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see whether this latest exchange sparks a new chapter in one of combat sports’ most public rivalries.

As the event progressed following the undercard bouts, host Max Kellerman began lauding UFC president Dana White, suggesting that MMA was surpassing boxing in popularity. His remarks, intended to highlight White’s success, drew immediate attention from Canelo, who wasn’t willing to let boxing’s status be questioned.

The press room bristled with tension as the Mexican star leaned into the microphone. Crawford, standing nearby, nodded in agreement, emphasizing the weight of Alvarez’s point. The confrontation reminded fans that despite MMA’s rise, boxing’s legacy and cultural impact remain firmly intact.

Did Dana White really overshadow boxing in the modern era?

Kellerman, speaking as part of the Netflix broadcast team, proclaimed: “Dana White is the greatest combat sports promoter in my lifetime. Boxing’s not as popular as it used to be anymore, right? UFC is really popular. That’s because of Dana White. He built something like the NBA. Stop booing, because he’s about to do it again, for boxing now.”

Canelo immediately countered: “Hey Max, boxing is always bigger. Don’t say boxing is not big enough. Respect for other sports. Great job and everything, but boxing is boxing.” Crawford added: “No lies.” The exchange underscored the enduring debate between boxing and MMA fans, while also reaffirming Canelo’s role as a global ambassador for the sport.

What makes Canelo vs Crawford boxing’s biggest event this year?

The stakes for Saturday’s clash could not be higher. Canelo will defend his undisputed super-middleweight crown against Crawford, who has moved up 14 pounds to meet his rival at 168 lbs. Victory for Crawford would make him the first male three-weight undisputed champion of the modern era, while Canelo seeks to solidify his legacy as one of boxing’s greats.

The spectacle has already shattered records. The event’s gate ranks as the third-largest in boxing history and the largest ever for a combat sports stadium. Combined, Canelo and Crawford are expected to earn around $200 million, highlighting the financial and cultural magnitude of the fight.

With history on the line, Canelo vs. Crawford promises to be more than a contest—it is a defining moment for boxing in the modern combat sports landscape. Fans around the world will tune in Saturday night to witness a clash that transcends rivalry and cements legacies.

Dana White loves to go online and just drop bombs on fans in form of fight announcements. He gave some of them, especially focusing on UFC 322, where two title fights shape up a brilliant fight card. However, there is a weird trend. It’s not UFC’s fault, but it’s quite intriguing.

The main event is Jack Della Maddalena defending his title vs. Islam Makhachev, who is moving up a weight class after vacating the 155 belt. Also, Zhang Weili is also moving up as she’ll vacate the strawweight title to challenge Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight belt.

The trend? Well, first of all the two challengers are moving up from a weight class below so that is something worth noting. However, what it’s really strange is the fact that both defending champions are the underdogs according to Vegas’ odds. It’s not usual for challengers to be favorites, but especially when the two of them are moving out of their own division.

Makhachev is understandable, but Zhang?

Makhachev is somewhat understandable. In the end, he was always big for the lightweight division, he is the No.2 in the pound-for-pound rankings, hasn’t lost since 2015, rides a 15-fight win streak. Also, Della Maddalena is not that big of a name and hasn’t defended his belt. Still, it might be seen as a bit disrespectful but it’s still within the confines of logic. Makhachev is a -245 favorite to JDM’s +200 odds.

The Zhang Weili vs. Valentina Shevchenko odds, however, are very close yet the Chinese is still favored. This one is more shocking. Shevchenko is widely regarded as a top 3 women MMA fighter of all time. She has eight title defenses, is one of the more complete fighters on the roster and has done way too much to get doubted like this.

Yes, Weili is a future Hall of Famer herself, but she’s been knocked out before and has been chinny before, getting hurt plenty of times. Weili is amazing, but making her favorite over Shevchenko is wild. Weili is -121 to beat Shevchenko, who is at +101.

What other fights got announced?

Dana White also announced former welterweight champion Leon Edwards will test rising contender Carlos Prates. This fight will also take place at the UFC 322 event.

White also announced a couple of fights for UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern will fight for the vacant strawweight championship. Also on that card, Umar Nurmagomedov makes his awaited return to fight against Mario Bautista, who just derailed Patchy Mix’s hype train. This card will be headlined by Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane as the British fighter makes his first heavyweight title defense.

The UFC and Paramount+ have reached a massive deal that will change how viewers see MMA forever. It will start in 2026 and it’s a fan-friendly deal as viewership will have to invest way less money to watch marquee events.

Both Paramount and UFC’s parent company, TKO, announced that they reached a seven-year media rights agreement to make Paramount -and CBS- the exclusive home of the UFC in the United States.

The deal is up to $7.7 billion and it will “move away from UFC’s existing Pay-Per-View model in favor of making these premium events available at no additional cost to the expansive U.S. subscriber base of Paramount+,” the official statement said. Paramount also announced that they will intend to explore UFC rights outside the United States as they become available.

This is good for fans in America

The UFC plans approximately 43 live events annually. Most weekends, you’ll find action inside the octagon. Out of those 43 events, 13 or so are catalogued as PPVs. Those events come at an additional cost of $79.99. Add to that a monthly subscription of $11.99 to now-former partner ESPN+. This means that if UFC fans wanted to see all the events, they would pay north of $1,100 per year.

With this new deal, you can forget about paying those heavy $79.99. You can find everything on Paramount+ as long as you are subscribed. As for now, you can get Paramount+ for $59.99 per year for the Essential Plan. There’s also a $119.99 annual fee for the Showtime Plan, which is ad-free and includes Showtime content. It remains to be seen whether Paramount will adjust prices once the deal kicks in, but even if they do so, it will still be cheaper than what it is now.

Dana White does it again

What Dana White has done with this company is nothing short of amazing. Of course, not every decision has been great in hindsight. Still, he took a broke company and transformed it into a sports juggernaut. This is not the first time he redefines UFC’s trajectory.

His milestones are huge. He helped MMA get legalized in all 50 states and go to countries like France, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and more. He also was the first major sport to be back after the Covid-19 pandemic forced a worldwide hiatus. More recently, he made the UFC the only sporting event to ever hold a show on the Vegas Sphere. Dana White breaks barriers and this deal is another step in the right direction for the company.

Following UFC 318, Dana White, as per usual, approached the media during the post-fight press conference. In there, one of the trending topics in the MMA world, the UFC White House event was discussed. Among the subtopics, the UFC president was asked about the return of Jon Jones to the testing pool and the fact that the fighter said he wants to be on the card.

White, who has publicly said he considers Jones the greatest of all time, has also stated his relationship with Jones is complicated. This all came to a climax after the UFC tried to pin him against top contender Tom Aspinall for months, only for Jones to stall the matter and then retire.

Now, when asked about the possibility of Jones headlining the White House, Dana was clear on his thoughts. “I can’t risk putting Jones in big positions, in a big spot, and have something go wrong… especially the White House card.” After years of dealing with an extremely talented, yet complicated athlete, it seems like White is ready to sacrifice a household name in order to have a smooth buildup to the biggest event in MMA history.

White is promising the best, biggest card of all time

White is no stranger to deliver big promises. However, he fulfills those big claims most of the time. Whether it was UFC 300, the Sphere or Fight Island, he is determined to make history in a consistent basis. White said the White House event will be the biggest and baddest card the UFC will ever assemble.

This means you can expect huge names from the early prelims to the main event. Most of UFC’s big stars have already raised their hands volunteering for the event. However, the shaping of the event is intriguing. In the end, there is only one American champion in the promotion right now, Kayla Harrison.

The UFC has big projects in the near future

Of course, the White House will be the main focus of the UFC until the event is settled. However, there are plenty of other intriguing plans in store for MMA’s biggest promotion.

Having Ilia Topuria has opened the way to have a stadium event in Spain. Also, Dana White has stated his desire to go to Africa and keep stomping barriers in the sport. The UFC is a juggernaut and it will keep growing as long as White stays as president.

Alalshikh, collaborating with UFC president Dana White, has shared plans that could redefine the scale and scope of boxing events. Scheduled for September 13, the fight promises more than just the headline bout — it aims to become a multi-day festival of boxing, a move that could challenge traditional event formats and shake up how fans experience fight nights.

Despite Dana White’s enthusiasm for creating the best possible live event, Alalshikh’s vision pushes the boundaries even further. His approach to eliminating the traditional pay-per-view model in favor of free access through subscriptions already marks a shift. Now, with this multi-day fight card concept, he is setting the stage for an unprecedented boxing experience.

What is Turki Alalshikh’s plan for the event?

In a recent video posted by Ring Magazine, Alalshikh detailed the staggering scale of the upcoming event. Instead of the usual single night of fights, the undercard alone will stretch over two or three days due to the sheer volume of matchups.

“The undercard will be between two or three days. We have now reached more than 20 fights to do on the undercard,” Alalshikh explained.

This plan is designed to showcase a wider range of talent from around the globe, turning the Canelo vs. Crawford fight into a multi-day boxing festival rather than just one iconic evening. It represents a bold step towards making boxing more accessible and comprehensive, but also raises questions about how fans and the industry will adapt to this extended format.

Challenges and fan reactions

While the concept has ambitious appeal, it also presents significant challenges for Dana White and his team. Hosting and promoting an event over multiple days introduces logistical complexities, from venue management to broadcasting schedules.

Fans on social media have expressed mixed reactions, with many voicing concerns that stretching the event could dilute the excitement and quality. Some worry that the multi-day format might overwhelm viewers or detract from the significance of the headline bout.

Nonetheless, Alalshikh’s innovative approach underscores a willingness to push boxing into new territories. Whether the plan will ultimately be embraced by the boxing community remains to be seen, but it certainly sets up an intriguing narrative leading into what is expected to be a landmark event in combat sports.

The UFC is known for breaking barriers. When looking at it, they were the first sports league to come back during the Covid-19 pandemic. The UFC also did the first sporting event in the Las Vegas’ Sphere. Now, they might go to the White House, according to U.S. President Donald Trump. Needless to say, Conor McGregor is already making his name a possible option.

President Trump was speaking on Thursday about events planned in 2026. That will mark the 250th anniversary of the United States as a country. Hence, Trump thinks the UFC should make an event inside the White House to celebrate.

“I even think we’re gonna have a UFC fight. Does anybody watch UFC, the great Dana White? We’re gonna have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House,” Trump said at the event. “We have a lot of land there. We’re gonna build a little — we’re not, Dana’s gonna do it. Dana’s great, one of a kind. We’re gonna have a UFC fight, championship fight, full fight, like 20,000-25,000 people.”

After all, can we finally settle a beef?

If it makes noise, Conor McGregor will always be in the middle of it. Of course, as soon as this was announced, the Notorious Conor McGregor reignited a long-standing beef with Michael Chandler. “The only place where disputes truly get settled”. That was his post with a photoshopped picture of him and Chandler facing off with Trump and the White House serving as background.

McGregor and Chandler’s beef is an old one. They were trainers on season 31 and let’s just say, they didn’t get along. They were scheduled to fight at UFC 303 on June 29. However, McGregor pulled out due to an injury.

McGregor’s been off ever since

After the injury, McGregor has been very active, but not for the right reasons. He has been seen partying and living a crazy life. He even knocked out another gentleman at a bar after a brief scuffle.

Paraphrasing, the saying goes “it’s easy to run at 4 a.m. when you have nothing, but it’s not that easy when you sleep on silk pajamas.” With McGregor, that applies to a tee. Will he get inspired by the possibility of main eventing the White House?

In a recent social media post, De La Hoya criticized the growing media frenzy around the fight. The former boxer took issue with several aspects of the fight’s promotion, starting with the significant weight disparity between the two fighters.

“You have Crawford jumping up two weight classes to fight Canelo, who’s a natural light heavyweight,” De La Hoya said. “Crawford, who couldn’t push back Madrimov? Life and death with Madrimov. What do you think Canelo’s gonna do to him? Run him out of the ring.”

De La Hoya’s criticism centers on Crawford’s move to face Canelo, questioning how the 35-year-old Crawford will fare against a much bigger opponent. He is particularly concerned with the disparity in size and strength, which he believes could heavily favor Canelo.

Dana White’s role as promoter

A major point of contention for De La Hoya is Dana White’s involvement in the fight. The UFC president was announced as the co-promoter alongside Turki Alalshikh and SELA. De La Hoya didn’t hold back, criticizing White’s role in the promotion, especially considering his lack of experience in the boxing world.

“You know what’s laughable also? Dana White being named the promoter of this fight, considering he’s never been in the boxing space, has no stable of boxers, he didn’t negotiate (expletive). And is being handed this fight on a silver platter, and called ‘promoter.’ He is the trust fund baby of boxing.” De La Hoya said, expressing his disbelief at White’s rapid rise as a boxing promoter.

Clash of schedules: Canelo, UFC, and the fans

Another aspect of the Canelo vs. Crawford promotion that De La Hoya finds troubling is the decision to schedule the fight during the same weekend as UFC Noche Fight Night. De La Hoya has long been an advocate for prioritizing the fans, and he argues that this scheduling clash shows a lack of respect for them.

“Does that not mean this fight is not important? Do they not give a (expletive) about the fans or viewership? Why is it that Canelo has to fight during the day on Mexican Independence Day weekend?” De La Hoya questioned. According to De La Hoya, the scheduling decision reflects a prioritization of money over the interests of fans, something that he believes Canelo is guilty of.

Looking ahead

As the fight approaches, the tension between De La Hoya and the parties involved in the promotion continues to mount. His critique of both Canelo Alvarez and Dana White adds fuel to the fire, intensifying the debate about how the sport should be managed and promoted. Whether the fight lives up to its “fight of the century” hype remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the eyes of the boxing world will be firmly fixed on this high-profile matchup.

The recent partnership between White and Turki Alalshikh to launch a new boxing league has sparked widespread controversy. Alalshikh, in collaboration with TKO Holdings, aims to revolutionize boxing, with rumors suggesting a potential opening fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford.

However, Alalshikh’s bold statements about his ambition to “blow it all up” with the new league have been interpreted as a direct attack on the boxing establishment, including figures like De La Hoya.

De La Hoya’s response

De La Hoya’s offense stems from the perception that White, with his UFC model, intends to take control of boxing. “That comment offended me a little bit,” De La Hoya told Fight Hub TV on March 11. “I’ve been in boxing all my life. I’ve been promoting for over 20 years.”

The Golden Boy Promotions founder emphasized his commitment to his company and DAZN, vowing to continue delivering the best fights to fans. “I am confident that this league, in a short time, will blow everything away,” he said, referencing Alalshikh’s comments. “While this may have generated excitement among fans, with Oscar… it did not!”

De La Hoya’s warning to Alalshikh

While acknowledging the honor of working with Turki Alalshikh, De La Hoya made it clear that he will defend his territory. “I have my business that I will take care of. And nobody is going to touch me in that regard, because we are the best promoters in the world of boxing,” De La Hoya declared.

Opposing visions: The future of boxing

De La Hoya’s strong response has prompted Dana White to clarify his stance on collaborating with established promoters like De La Hoya and Eddie Hearn. White has been vocal about his vision of replicating the UFC’s model in boxing, where fighters are exclusive to the promotion, eliminating outside competition.

However, boxing operates differently from MMA, with top talent tied to established promoters and significant differences in fighter pay structures. When asked about his intention to work with figures like De La Hoya and Hearn, White replied uncertainly: “I don’t know how this is all going to play out. We’ll see.”

For some, Jake Paul has built his boxing career by generating controversy and attracting the attention of big names like Mike Tyson and Canelo Alvarez. However, White views these efforts as a misguided attempt to elevate his status.

While White acknowledges Paul’s ability to attract fans, he remains highly critical of the YouTuber’s recent victories over fellow influencers and former MMA fighters. According to White, Paul is simply out of his depth when facing elite boxers like Canelo Alvarez.

“Canelo is still the man,” White said during an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s podcast. “He goes out there, puts in the work, and continues to dominate at the highest level. Jake Paul fighting him? It wouldn’t last more than 30 seconds.”

Is a Jake Paul vs. Canelo Alvarez fight even possible?

White made it clear that a fight between Jake Paul and Canelo Alvarez is far from realistic: “Canelo fights real guys,” White explained. “He keeps his credibility intact and still makes millions per fight. He doesn’t need Jake Paul, and honestly, Jake should stick to what he’s doing. There’s no shame in that, but stepping up to someone like Canelo is pure delusion.”

Reality vs. Fantasy

White went even further by comparing Paul’s ambition to an impossible dream. “Jake calling out Canelo is like someone dreaming of winning a gold medal without ever training,” White joked. “It’s entertaining to think about, but it’s not grounded in reality.”

Canelo Alvarez: Too big a challenge for Jake Paul

For now, it seems Jake Paul may want to reconsider his challenges. Canelo Alvarez isn’t just a big name, he’s a pound-for-pound legend. White insists that anyone not ready for boxing’s highest level, like Jake Paul, would quickly be overwhelmed by Canelo.