As combat sports enthusiasts gear up for a monumental weekend, the spotlight has shifted-dramatically away from UFC and squarely onto the boxing ring.
The face-off between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, organized by Dana White’s newly minted Zuffa Boxing, has eclipsed UFC Noche, much to the chagrin of MMA purists.
When Zuffa Boxing posted a slick clip of Canelo and Crawford’s face-off at a Las Vegas fountain, the message was unmistakable: this is the main event. Meanwhile, UFC Noche is barely an afterthought.
On Instagram, the post read: “FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK, @Canelo & @TBudCrawford start fight week off face-to-face.”
Fans left furious with UFC downgrade
That subtle framing inspired playful-yet pointed-backlash. Online, fans seized upon the moment as evidence of White’s hands-off approach to MMA’s marquee card, humorously suggesting UFC is now the side act to boxing’s main stage.
One fan wrote, “What the hell is Belal doing there?”-mocking the presence of Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh, who stood beside White during the face-off and resembles UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad.
Another referenced past mix-ups: “Canelo, Kendrick Lamar, Joe Rogan, and Belal.” The meme alluded to previous identity flubs-like Crawford being mistaken for the rapper or White being confused for Joe Rogan.
One fan quipped: “Dana always got that I’m about to get paid grimace on his face lol.”
Highlighting the business-first image that White projects, the jibe suggests his priorities lean toward the glitter of boxing over MMA’s backbone.
The strategy behind the shift
This is part of the strategy. UFC Noche, originally scheduled for Arena Guadalajara, was relocated to Texas due to construction delays. UFC 320 also slipped into October, leaving its traditional Mexican Independence Weekend unguarded.
That window-unintentionally left vacant-was quickly seized by Zuffa Boxing. Canelo vs Crawford isn’t just a matchup; it’s an entertainment spectacle built to dazzle. The contrast couldn’t be clearer: boxing lands the marketing push, while UFC Noche becomes the footnote.
With the inaugural Zuffa Boxing match now scheduled for September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas-streaming live via Netflix-the battleground feels rewritten. Dana White’s role as a master promoter remains undisputed, but fans are asking: at what cost to UFC’s identity?
Canelo’s upcoming bout with Crawford is seen as more of a cultural megaphone than just another fight, and it’s natural that it has momentarily silenced the usual MMA fanfare. In which case, Dana White may have won the weekend, but in doing so, he’s become the lightning rod for fan frustration.
For combat sports, the real question is whether this weekend’s shift is a temporary blip-or the beginning of a new hierarchy.
Read the full article here
