UFC CEO Dana White believes you can’t do a tribute to Mexican combat sports without honoring Canelo Alvarez, who fights across town on the same night.
The UFC will honor Saul “Canelo” Alvarez during their Noche UFC broadcast as an important part of Mexican combat sports history.
Riyadh Season Noche UFC at the MSG Sphere (aka UFC 306) is set to feature mini-movies in-between the fights that tell a story of Mexico’s heritage and their history of churning out some of the toughest and best fighters. So of course Canelo Alvarez will be featured, according to Dana White.
That’s despite Alvarez being Noche UFC’s big rival as he fights across town at the T-Mobile Arena on the same night.
“I’ve said it a million times: I respect Canelo, I like Canelo,” White said in a new interview with Grind City Media. “Met him. He’s a nice guy. That night, we’re talking about the history of Mexico, and the history of the people and their traditions, and the impact that they’ve had on combat sports. Somebody asked me, ‘So you’ll be celebrating Canelo that night?’ Yes, We are.”
“Yeah, Canelo is a big part, he’s featured in the show,” White continued. “He’s a big part of the night. Yes. Of course. Julio Cesar Chavez, Salvador Sanchez. How are you gonna do all the baddest dudes that have ever come out of Mexico and not talk about Canelo too?”
UFC 306 goes down September 14th from the MSG Sphere and features a bantamweight title fight between Sean O’Malley and No. 1 contender Merab Dvalishvili in a pick-em. At the T-Mobile, -1600 favorite Canelo Alvarez fights +800 underdog Edgar Berlanga.