It’s not Conor McGregor’s comeback fight, but the UFC returns to Las Vegas for UFC 303. After April’s historic PPV event, the revamped card promises to be another blockbuster. Ahead of the much-anticipated Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka title rematch, Dana White was all smiles. However, in a media availability round, he went off on the thorn in his sight – Bob Arum.
White spoke with Oscar Willis of The MacLife ahead of the UFC 303 pre-fight press conference. He touched on the upcoming card, Power Slap, the Ian Garry-Michael Page feud, and Prochazka’s woes about Pereira using Shamanic magic to win fights. He even divulged peculiarly distinctive habits by the Czech fighter in the lead-up. Soon after, he diverted criticism towards the Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum.
He [Arum] has fu*king nothing, ..He's created nothing. Always just fu*king stripping money out and never invested back into the fu*king sport. You had no fu*king vision for the sport; you had nothing. You're not as smart as you think you are, Bob Arum...Dana White to Oscar Willis (@oscarswillis) of @themaclife
The conversation, initially focused on the upcoming UFC event, soon turned to boxing. White didn’t hold out on his opinions. Conversely, he was all praises for Turki Alalshikh, Minister and the current Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority. His Highness and Saudi GEA funded Dana White’s spectacular $2.3 billion dream for the Las Vegas “Sphere.”
The UFC 306 event was thus rebranded Riyadh Season Noche UFC. Turki Alalshikh is also responsible for major boxing cards. Comparatively, White addressed the shortcomings of traditional boxing on Arum. His reverence was limited to Arum’s longevity and work ethic, but he took a shot at the veteran boxing promoter’s lack of vision.
Dana White and Boxing
White’s comments are part of a larger discourse in combat sports management. Taking over as UFC’s CEO and taskmaster, he has consistently been a proponent of innovation and growth in martial arts. For example, Power Slap (@powerslap) is his brainchild. Fans and pundits are highly critical of the slap-fighting culture; even so, none could argue with the results and popularity it has been a magnet.
Meanwhile, Dana White considers traditional boxing promoters and ideas as larger impediments to progress. Specifically, everyone holds a belt in the fractured four-belt era, and commission payouts are the way to go. Lineal legacy and value are staggering at half-shelf.
Turki Alalshikh has allegedly been in talks to formulate a multi-division Boxing League. Similar to that of the UFC. UFC on ABC 6: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov (Pay-per-view, ESPN/ESPN+) at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, proved a monumental first effort. Given its success and the extended association, Dana White could be a prime association for such a league.
The 54-year-old ponied up $50 million as a one-time boxing promoter for The Money Fight: Mayweather Jr. vs. McGregor, 2017. Mayweather alone has an ROI of $275 million in the fight purse, leapfrogging prime names on Forbes’ list. The match made 4.3 million PPV buys and a $55 million live gate, propelling the idea of crossover boxing to new heights. Hence, White’s current criticism marks an innate desire to get back to the trend. He himself has mentioned wanting to step into the slate again.
Dana White once urged Bob Arum to pay what fighters are owed
Dana White goes off on Bob Arum (for old time’s sakes) pic.twitter.com/kRkEm16vq1
— Oscar Willis (@oscarswillis) June 28, 2024
Dana White has a special place of contempt for Bob Arum. Following his recent vivid spat with Oscar De La Hoya, the UFC CEO went off on Arum this week as well. While this emerges as his hate for the “old” boxing culture as a whole, Arum is a special case.
The duo has long exercised the notion that the other one had limited aptitude when it came to combat sports management. White has also been critical of his stance on fight pay and compensation. Back then, Arum’s comments about Terence Crawford became concerning for White.
Can you imagine if I said that. Are you fu*king kidding me? That’s not his [Crawford’s] fu*king problem that’s your problem his problem isn’t to figure out how you make money you fu*king signed a deal with this kid your job is to promote him...Dana White at Contender Series 36 (DWCS) press-conference
A 2022 lawsuit claimed Top Rank should pay Crawford a sum of $900,000 if Crawford didn’t have an offer. Mostly for a fight with Errol Spence Jr. by late 2020. Crawford has taken aim at Arum for treating people of color differently and not delivering top-bill matchups, as was promised.
Arum’s alleged concern about buying a house in Beverly Hills if he was to pay out Crawford sparked controversy. White could not hide his irate profanity, reacting to it. To make up for it, there were rumors of a Mcgregor vs. Crawford bill in crossover boxing; it did not come to pass. White has had a contentious taste for him ever since.
