Dana White denied that UFC was competing with Canelo Alvarez over Mexican Independence Day weekend, instead pointing to a business dispute with MGM over use of T-Mobile Arena.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is going head-to-head with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Mexican Independence Day weekend; however, the real battle isn’t taking place in the ring (or cage), it’s in backrooms between Dana White and MGM executives who manage T-Mobile Arena.
Indeed, UFC’s CEO spoke on the situation following a Contender Series event last night (watch event highlights here), cooling down rising temperatures between his promotion and Al Haymon, who is promoting Alvarez versus Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14, 2024, inside (you guessed it) T-Mobile Arena (details here).
That’s the same night the UFC holds Riyadh Season Noche UFC at The Sphere, featuring Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili.
“I don’t think it’s a battle,” White said. “Listen, I said props to Al Heyman — he slid right in there before we were even done with the weekend and took the date from us without MGM telling us. So, [MGM Resorts president] Bill Hornbuckle is trying to trying to fix this whole thing. That’s why he gave me the Sphere this year. And I’m sure we’ll get it figured out.”
White made sure to make a distinction between MGM executives he liked and those MGM executives who are, “douche bags.”
“When I say MGM, it’s the guys who run [T-Mobile Arena] who have been literally disrespecting us since day one of the relationship,” White continued. “So, now Bill Hornbuckle — the guy who runs MGM — had to get in the middle of this thing and try to fix it. That’s how I ended up at the Sphere. It’s a one and done. We’ll be back with MGM, and hopefully Bill can figure this thing out between us and the f—ing guys that run the arena.”
Asked who would have the bigger gate between Noche UFC and the Canelo fight, White shrugged.
“MGM’s guaranteeing the gate for that [Canelo] fight,” he said. “Yeah, they’re guaranteeing the gate. So, why would they not go on that date if MGM is going to put up all the money?
“Extra kick in the balls?” White continued. “Yeah, that’s what they do. This is what these guys have done for the last however many years. It’s f—ing crazy. There’s a documentary coming out. I lay this s— all out in the documentary. You’ll hear every little detail of what has happened with us in the MGM over the last 23 years. It’s f—ing crazy. You’ll be like, what?
“I just think that the guy who runs the the arena has been a complete douchebag to us for 23 years,” White added. “That’s what I think.”
“Hayman and Canelo are just doing their thing,” White concluded. “Props to them. Good for them that you guys could actually slide in and steal the date from us that easily without a phone call, without anything. Good for you. I would too if that’s what I could do. Right? But, that’s just a sliver of the disrespect that these guys at the arena have shown us over the last however many years. It’s crazy.”
The whole situation calls into question UFC’s continued use of T-Mobile Arena, which is the venue it has staged almost every major Las Vegas-based pay-per-view (PPV) event since 2017.
“You know, our our deal will be up eventually and we’ll have to figure that out,” White said. “But, that’s what I keep telling you, Bill Hornbuckle is in the middle of this thing trying to figure it out and make it better.”
Well Godspeed to you, Bill Hornbuckle. Can’t wait to see the spite-filled documentary.
To checkout the latest UFC 306 fight card and rumors for The Sphere click here.