UFC Stars Band Together Against Dana White’s Boxing Takeover Move: “That’s Not Good”

UFC veteran and others criticize promotional CEO Dana White’s involvement in boxing following the inaugural event.

UFC Stars Band Together Against Dana White’s Boxing Takeover Move: “That’s Not Good”

Dana White with his good friend Turki Alalshikh (via X)

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After transforming UFC into the biggest MMA promotion, Dana White stepped into boxing alongside Turki Alalshikh to launch TKO boxing. Last weekend, White promoted his inaugural event, which exceeded expectations and instantly grabbed massive attention from combat sports fans. In the main event, boxing legends Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford clashed, delivering a thrilling encounter. 

Since the beginning of this journey, Dana White has passionately emphasized his mission to save boxing from being ruined. With his promotion, White plans on implementing UFC-style management structures in boxing, while also bringing changes to the Muhammad Ali Act. However, he now faces a significant wave of criticism, with many analysts, including former UFC fighter Matt Brown. 

The big issue is what they’ve done with the UFC is they’ve monopolized the sport… you’ve never heard a single boxer in my lifetime beg the promoter for anything — because of the thing called the Ali Act, which the UFC is trying to revise, which actually means destroy. It’s not going to be a good thing…But when you have a single entity controlling rankings, controlling titles, that’s not a good thing for boxing.

Matt Brown via MMA Fighting 

Brown highlighted how UFC fighters frequently request fight bonuses, unlike boxers, and suggested this dynamic could soon change under White. Aljamain Sterling, Tito Ortiz, Anthony Taylor, and others were some of the fighters who supported Brown and his comments on White’s involvement in boxing.

Brown further emphasized how Dana White controls media narratives, which ultimately resulted in lackluster press conferences lacking tough questions. The last meaningful confrontation happened at the Alvarez versus Crawford presser, where White was uncomfortably asked about the Muhammad Ali Act.

Instead of addressing the legitimate question, White aggressively avoided the conversation by dismissing the reporter entirely.  White has often insisted that boxing desperately needs urgent reinvestment, similar to UFC’s promotional model, which revolutionized MMA. He argues boxing suffers from fragmented promoters, inconsistent matchmaking, and declining mainstream appeal, unlike UFC’s centralized control.

Dana White believes adapting UFC’s structure could stabilize boxing, improve fighter visibility, and create a reliable system sustaining fans’ long-term interest. However, while boxing requires structural changes, it remains undeniable that UFC also faces imperfections demanding urgent solutions for fairness and balance.

Constant criticism of Dana White’s UFC management 

In the UFC, fighter pay has always been a debate, often sparking criticism toward Dana White. The CEO repeatedly emphasizes that top-tier superstars receive substantial earnings, though many fighters fail to publicly disclose figures without contractual obligations. Nevertheless, UFC financial records indicate that athletes usually secure 16 to 20 percent of total promotional revenue, which raises serious concerns.

Problems in UFC and its structure
Problems in UFC and its structure (via X)

This contrasts drastically with leagues like the NFL and NBA, where athletes secure 50 percent revenue shares through bargaining agreements. Such agreements are possible because professional athletes within those leagues have strong unions, something noticeably absent within the UFC. This was one of the biggest reasons for the recent anti-trust settlement, where UFC had to pay around $375 million. 

From 2010 to 2017, over 1,000 fighters were eligible for this settlement and will receive an average payout of around $250,000 each. In MMA, most fighters lack negotiating power, leaving their compensation significantly below standards set by other professional sporting organizations worldwide.

In the past, Francis Ngannou demanded higher pay and contractual freedom to pursue boxing opportunities, causing conflict with Dana White. The UFC boss rejected those demands, leading to Ngannou’s departure from UFC, sparking heated debates about fairness and the financial treatment of fighters.

Following his exit, White continuously criticized Ngannou, questioning his integrity and character, despite Ngannou maintaining strong global fan support. White’s inaugural event with Alvarez and Crawford was successful, and it would be interesting to see what’s next for the promotion. Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh did hint at the announcement, but that wasn’t made, raising intrigue among combat sports fans.

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