Dana White has dominated out utilizing any UFC platform to stage boxing matches for champions like Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria, shutting down the newest wave of crossover speak coming from his personal roster.
Dana White’s stance at UFC London
Talking on the UFC London put up‑struggle press convention, White was requested if Zuffa Boxing might ever be used to advertise crossover fights for Pereira or Topuria, each of whom have publicly pushed for future strikes into boxing. He responded with an emphatic rejection, saying there was “no method in hell” he would oversee these bouts and calling crossover occasions “s**t” that don’t match the UFC’s identification.
White confused that his focus stays on matching elite fighters towards one another below MMA guidelines somewhat than reserving one‑off spectacles with boxers. He added that there are “different networks and different folks” who can deal with crossover occasions, however that it’s “not what I do,” signalling that even along with his lengthy‑teased Zuffa Boxing model, he has no real interest in following the model popularised by different promoters.
Alex Pereira’s lengthy‑time period boxing ambition
Pereira, the UFC gentle heavyweight champion and former two‑division kickboxing titleholder, has been open for months about his plan to compete in skilled boxing as soon as his MMA run ends. In a latest look, he mentioned he’s “positively going to field” and confused that he has already proved doubters unsuitable in kickboxing and MMA.
The Brazilian knockout artist framed a boxing marketing campaign as a private problem somewhat than a money seize, insisting “it’s not about aiming for extra money” and that he “simply need[s] to go on the market and struggle.” Final yr he even entertained the concept of a superfight with unified heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, briefly fuelling hypothesis a couple of future cross‑code conflict earlier than White’s newest feedback cooled that narrative.
Ilia Topuria eyeing a full swap
Topuria, the UFC light-weight champion, has given a fair clearer indication that he views boxing as his subsequent chapter after MMA. In an interview with Spanish outlet Marca, he mentioned he has “at all times wished to attempt [his] hand at boxing” and admitted he doesn’t count on to remain in MMA “too lengthy.”
The Georgian‑Spanish star defined that he desires to “end [his] story in combined martial arts” earlier than making an entire transition, arguing that bouncing between MMA camps and boxing camps wouldn’t be “very skilled.” Topuria highlighted the necessity to adapt to boxing‑particular timing, coaching and the ring atmosphere, and predicted that his eventual transfer “goes to shock various folks,” a press release now at odds with White’s refusal to facilitate any UFC‑backed crossover showcase.
White’s feedback place a transparent organisational line between UFC championship campaigns and the kind of boxing experiments which have pushed latest pay‑per‑view headlines elsewhere. Whereas Pereira and Topuria proceed to speak up lengthy‑time period plans within the ring, these ambitions should wait till they fulfil or exit their UFC obligations, as a result of their promoter has made it clear he is not going to promote them in boxing below his personal banner.
