Dana White ends UFC fighters’ career change hopes with eight-word statement after teasing imminent ‘big announcements’
DANA WHITE has pumped the brakes on any UFC fighters dipping their toes into the boxing world – just weeks after announcing his intention to get into the sport.
The UFC supremo revealed late last month that he intends to resurrect plans to create Zuffa Boxing, which he first teased in 2017.
White‘s revelation led UFC fans to wonder if he’ll permit any fighters on the roster to switch codes and step into the squared circle.
But the veteran promoter insists NONE of the fighters currently under contract with MMA‘s top promotion will be allowed to box.
When asked if he’d allow any UFC fighters to follow in the footsteps of Conor McGregor, he said: “God, I hope not.
“Yeah, no, [it will be] completely separate.”
He later added: “Everything is about timing, and is now the time? We’re going to find out.
“There’s a lot of things I think I can do that other people haven’t done yet.”
Former two-division champion McGregor entered the boxing world in August 2017 for a spectacular crossover clash with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The Notorious pocketed over a whopping £75million for the ‘The Money Fight’, which he lost via tenth-round TKO.
White’s interest in getting involved in boxing waned in the years that followed Mayweather vs McGregor.
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He even branded the sport “a broken business that is an absolute nightmare to try to fix.”
But the 55-year-old has since changed his stance, admitting last month: “There will be some big announcements.
“If you know anything about me and you go back and look at anything I ever said. I never say anything that I don’t do, ever.
“We’ve been kicking the boxing thing around for a long time and you’ve never heard me commit and say, ‘I’m in’. I’m in.”
White’s plans to enter the sport have been hailed by his good pal Mike Tyson, who said during an appearance on the Come and Talk 2 Me podcast: “Is he really in boxing now?
“Well listen, that’s going to be the best thing to ever happen to boxing, just like the UFC.
“If you’re in the UFC and if anyone is booing your fight, you’re not gonna see that guy again.
“His next fight is gonna be in South Dakota somewhere.
“If you don’t have a good fight, you’re never gonna see that guy again.
“Not like boxing, ‘Oh this guy is gonna fight next month again,’ I don’t wanna see that.
“If any fights stink, you’re not back in the UFC anymore, you’re never going to see those guys again.”