Dana White is unfazed by UFC 317 clashing with Jake Paul’s boxing match against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., as he was unaware of the event and finds it interesting that former UFC champion Holly Holm is on the same card after her return to boxing.
Dana White isn’t losing sleep over the competition. UFC 317 is set to clash with Jake Paul’s boxing match against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. this Saturday.
International Fight Week wraps up with a pay-per-view in Vegas. Ilia Topuria faces Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title, while Paul gears up for Chavez in Anaheim. Oh, and Holly Holm’s back in the ring too, after a 12-year hiatus, thanks to Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.
This isn’t UFC’s first rodeo with rival events. But White? He didn’t even know Paul was fighting. “Oh really? I didn’t even f*cking know that,” he casually mentioned at Fanatics Fest.
Holm’s story is intriguing too. She asked for her UFC release, despite having fights left on her contract. Granted, she became a free agent, aiming for a fresh start.
Initially, Holm signed with the Global Fight League. But, surprise! The GFL fizzled out before even launching. Now, she’s back to boxing, where she’s already a Hall of Famer with a 33-2-3 record.
White seemed amused when told about Holm’s boxing return. “Oh no shit?” he remarked, seemingly out of the loop. Yet, he found it “interesting” that Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer, faces a legit opponent like Chavez.
Chavez, at 39, has a 2-1 record since 2021. His recent bouts? A win over Uriah Hall and a loss to Anderson Silva. Not exactly a blazing trail, but still noteworthy.