When asked about the timing of the announcement during the post-event press conference, Paul said White was an “insecure little boy.” Then, he said of White and the UFC, “The c*kehead is back! Nice. Cool. Doesn’t matter. Just shows how pressed they are.”

Paul and White have been beefing for a long time now. Paul didn’t like that White blocked his attempt to fight McGregor. Then, he came after White for fighter’s pay, and now he put an MMA event just to compete with the UFC.

Dana White killed two birds with one stone

White has beef with both Ngannou and Paul. Hence, by announcing the Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway fight during Ngannou’s walkout, he managed to anger both, Ngannou and Paul. Ngannou even responded to a question regarding that topic in an expletive manner.

White was a step ahead from both and managed to capture the spotlight both before the fight and on both press conferences. Chess not checkers by the UFC president against two of his modern rivals.

Why did White not do it on the main event?

While it’s just a theory, the fact is that many realize that Dana White didn’t do it amid the Ronda Rousey fight because they are still both really close friends. Hence, the theory states that White didn’t want to harm Rousey’s spotlight, but he was more than willing to do it vs. Ngannou.

During the press conference ahead of the fight, Rousey was clear on her stance. “I would want to make something abundantly clear and that’s I owe Dana White and the Fertitta’s immensely. I would be caught dead before you ever heard me say a bad thing about any of them. But my loyalty is to them and not the company that they sold. I do not owe TKO’s UFC a damn thing.”

White sold the company almost a decade ago for $4.6 billion to TKO, but he remains the president. Still, Rousey is not fond of the direction the UFC has been going ever since White is no longer the end-all-be-all of the UFC.

Where is Ronda Rousey fighting?

If not the UFC, who can give Rousey the paycheck she is asking for? Enter Jake Paul, one of Dana White’s nemesis, and his MVP promotions. Rousey will be the main event on what can be called a stacked card due to the names involved, though not precisely due to the fighters’ actual forms.

She will headline the MVP event against Gina Carano, with Francis Ngannou, Philippe Lins, Nate Diaz, and Mike Perry also involved in the event. Ngannou also had a very public feud with Dana White and the UFC, which led to the release of his contract.

MVP MMA main card

The event, which will be broadcasted on Netflix worldwide, has a plethora of huge matchups. From UFC veterans, to underground fighters making their way up, it surely promises to be one of the best non-UFC cards of all time.

Main Event: Ronda Rousey (12-2) vs. Gina Carano (7-1) (Featherweight)
Co-Main: Nate Diaz (21-13) vs. Mike Perry (14-8) (Welterweight)
Heavyweight Bout: Francis Ngannou (18-3) vs. Philippe Lins (18-5) (Heavyweight)
Heavyweight Bout: Junior Dos Santos (23-10) vs. Robelis Despaigne (5-2 (Heavyweight)
Lightweight Bout: Salahdine Parnasse (22-2) vs. Kenneth Cross (17-4) (Lightweight)

During the post-fight press conference, White shared the private conversation he had with the former champion immediately after the scorecards were read. “He literally walked up to me after the fight and said, ‘I want to move up. I don’t want to fight in this weight class anymore,’” White told reporters, signaling the end of Chimaev’s middleweight chapter.

Following the loss that affected his record, Sean Strickland reveals who he wants next after beating Khamzat Chimaev, already setting his sights on new challengers while Chimaev reevaluates. Chimaev’s professional record now sits at 15-1, and while he suffered no major injuries, the move to a new division typically requires four to six months of physical preparation before returning to the Octagon.

The best weight class for Chimaev

Chimaev has achieved his greatest success as a middleweight, winning the world title from Dricus du Plessis and defeating legends like Robert Whittaker in the 185-pound category. However, standing at 6’2” with a massive frame, the weight cut to middleweight has often looked draining, leading many to believe that a move to light heavyweight is the most logical step.

Having previously competed at welterweight, where he famously struggled to make the 170-pound limit against Nate Diaz, it is clear that Chimaev’s body is naturally evolving toward the heavier divisions. A jump to the 205-pound light heavyweight class would allow him to maintain his explosive power.

While the loss at UFC 328 was a setback, Chimaev remains one of the most physically gifted athletes in the sport and could easily become a title contender in a new division by late 2026. By removing the stress of the scale, “Borz” may find more longevity and strength.

Hearn strongly rejected White’s assertion that he would serve as lead promoter for the event, criticizing the UFC president’s comments in direct terms. “Such a clout chaser. Not a chance and contractually impossible,” Hearn said, according to The Mirror. “Let me know when you find your (expletive).” The response came after White stated he would be involved in promoting the Fury vs Joshua blockbuster under his Zuffa Boxing plans.

The disagreement unfolds as Joshua continues working toward a full return after a disrupted year. The former heavyweight champion was expected to fight earlier in 2025 following his knockout win over Jake Paul in December, but his plans were delayed after a serious car accident. Since then, he has resumed training and has been seen preparing alongside former rival Oleksandr Usyk, who has recently been linked to a potential bout with David Benavidez, as he rebuilds toward a summer return window.

Fury vs Joshua build-up intensifies as promotional dispute grows

The long-awaited clash between Fury and Joshua remains dependent on both fighters successfully navigating their respective tune-up bouts. Joshua is expected to face Kristian Prenga on July 25, while Fury continues to position himself for what could be one of the most significant heavyweight events in modern boxing history.

Fury has already added fuel to the anticipation after publicly calling for the matchup following his recent ring appearance at Tottenham, where he secured a dominant win over Arslanbek Makhmudov. Joshua, meanwhile, has gradually re-entered the public spotlight, including attending major boxing events in the UK as he prepares for his return.

Dana White addressed his involvement in the event, stating: “This is the busiest year of my career. I’m gonna be traveling everywhere… I’m focused on Zuffa Boxing hardcore this year… I’m doing the Tyson Fury – AJ fight, too. I’m gonna be promoting that.” His comments directly challenged the long-standing promotional structure traditionally led by Hearn and Frank Warren.

Saudi-backed mega-fight remains in development amid uncertainty

Despite the public disagreement, the Fury vs Joshua fight remains backed by Saudi boxing figure Turki Alalshikh, with plans for a major global broadcast. The financial backing positions the event as one of the most significant boxing spectacles in recent memory once finalized.

However, the promotional dispute highlights the complexity behind organizing such a large-scale event involving multiple competing entities. While both fighters remain focused on their immediate fights, the business side continues to generate headlines and uncertainty.

For now, the bout remains conditional on performance in upcoming fights, but the growing tension between promoters has only intensified anticipation for a matchup that continues to dominate boxing discussions worldwide.

During UFC 327’s press conference, Dana White revealed that it was United States President, Donald Trump, who was in attendance, the one that asked Dana “Why is Derrick Lewis not in the White House card?”

So, White told Lewis Trump wanted him on the card, to which Lewis replied “I absolutely want to fight on the card.” However, matchmaker Nick Maynard couldn’t find Lewis a fight quick enough, because soon thereafter, Hokit won against Blaydes in one of the best fights of all time.

After that, Joe Rogan (commentator for the UFC) said “is there another slot open on the White House card?” That prompted White to go back to Maynard and sent him to Hokit’s dressing room to negotiate. “Hokit was getting into an ambulance and said yes,” White said.

Josh Hokit vs Curtis Blaydes is arguably the best heavyweight bout of all time

When you think heavyweights, you usually think knockouts, and not that much cardio. Hokit and Blaydes threw for more than 300 significant strikes combined, and both guys showed cardio, resiliency, power, and grit. It was an amazing fight all around and Hokit’s personality was matched by his skill.

Josh Hokit is rising crazy-fast within the UFC confines

With an unapologetic, trash-talking, cringey, and loud personality, Josh Hokit has rapidly became one of the most mediatic names in the UFC. His weigh in clip alone did more than 15 million views across all platforms. A PR dream and nightmare at the same time, Hokit is already a huge name to follow.

However, as Dana White said, “once he fights, we all forget about it” and he also stated that he is not precisely a fan of Hokit shtick but that he can “talk the talk.” Hokit is 9-0 with eight finishes and a huge figure rising.

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) is an enterprise led by Jake Paul focused on premier sports events. On May 16, they will host an event featuring the return of Ronda Rousey, who will step back into action to fight Gina Carano.

The success of MVP’s events has raised questions about the UFC’s future. Now, Jake Paul has intensified these doubts by stating that UFC Freedom 250, which takes place at the White House, is one of the many mistakes he believes Dana White, who recently judged his fight against Anthony Joshua, is making with his enterprise.

“[Dana White is] not smart enough. Just look at what he’s doing,” Paul told Theo Von on his This Past Weekend podcast. “You don’t get Jon Jones on the White House card? First of all, Justin Gaethje is going to lose to Ilia [Topuria] on the White House card. So you have a Spaniard beating a white American on the patriotic White House card? Big mistake. Why are you not going to pay Jon Jones? They’ve gotten greedy, and they’ve forgotten their hearts as a company.”

Jake Paul is open to working with the UFC

Jake Paul has evolved from being an actor and YouTuber to an influencer, boxer, and entrepreneur. With his expansion into the entertainment business through MVP, he is sending a clear message that he intends to become a top businessman in the world of sports.

During his talk with Theo Von, Paul hinted at the possibility of the UFC acquiring MVP, but only if he could become part of the organization to guide it toward a better direction than the one he believes Dana White is currently leading it.

“I’m open to it. Buy us,” Paul added. “We’ll help you guys not be idiots. The amount of money you would spend—like, I don’t have an ego. I’ll work with anybody.”

Jake Paul believes MMA has stalled due to the UFC

According to Jake Paul, mixed martial arts has an extremely high ceiling for growth. However, he suggests that problems with fighter revenue, specifically within the UFC, may be the primary reason the sport is not growing as rapidly as it should.

“The NFL pays their athletes 50 percent of the revenue; so if the NFL makes a billion dollars, the athletes make $500 million,” the YouTuber said. “In the UFC, it’s $150 million out of a billion, but when you exclude Conor McGregor and Jon Jones from that, it becomes like 5 percent—$50 million out of a billion.”

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.