UFC President admits organization worst ever at celebrity graphics after Shakur Stevenson mistake
"I just paid Shakur Stevenstein a shitload of money, and for some reason we can't figure this celebrity shit out. They put him up as a fucking OKC NBA player. Are you fucking kidding me? We are the absolute worst to ever do the celebrity thing."
About this episode
UFC President Dana White held a post-fight press conference following a record-breaking but controversial fight card that drew 20,076 fans and generated a $26.4 million gate, the highest in UFC history. The event was overshadowed by Conor McGregor's suspected ACL tear in the main event against Max Holloway, ending McGregor's highly anticipated comeback after a 5-year layoff. White confirmed that medical staff believe McGregor suffered a blown ACL and acknowledged that the injury raises serious questions about the fighter's future, though he declined to discuss potential retirement or trilogy fight scenarios until more information emerges. The co-main event saw Paddy Pimblett deliver what White called an incredible performance against Saint Denis, with Pimblett gaining 2 million social media followers after his previous loss and entering the arena with world champion energy. White praised Olympic gold medalist Gable Stevenson's UFC debut, noting the wrestler looked like a complete mixed martial artist rather than a typical wrestler who stinks the place up. In a candid moment, White harshly criticized his production team for mistakenly identifying boxer Shakur Stevenson as an Oklahoma City NBA player during the broadcast, calling UFC the worst organization ever at handling celebrity graphics despite 25 years in business. White also addressed his expanding boxing promotion Zuffa Boxing, cryptically stating he knows the location for the anticipated Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua fight, contradicting promoter Turki Alalshikh's recent statements that the venue hasn't been decided. Throughout the press conference, White repeatedly deflected questions about future matchmaking, stating he doesn't like discussing fights on fight night and that his team would reconvene on Tuesday to plan next steps.
Key takeaways
- Dana White confirmed Conor McGregor likely suffered a blown ACL in his main event comeback fight after a 5-year layoff, with no immediate plans for a trilogy or retirement discussions
- The UFC event generated a record $26.4 million gate with 20,076 fans in attendance, marking the highest gate in company history
- Paddy Pimblett gained 2 million social media followers after his previous loss and delivered what White called an incredible performance with a nasty submission victory over Saint Denis
- White publicly criticized his production team for mistakenly identifying boxer Shakur Stevenson as an OKC NBA player, calling UFC the worst organization at celebrity graphics
- Olympic gold medalist Gable Stevenson impressed in his UFC debut by fighting like a mixed martial artist rather than a traditional wrestler, throwing strikes and engaging in standup battles
- White claimed he knows the location for the Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua boxing match, contradicting promoter Turki Alalshikh's statements that the venue hasn't been decided
- White confirmed UFC has a wellness program similar to WWE's that provides assistance to current and former fighters dealing with personal problems