Dana White never shied away from criticizing Showtime’s fight promotions, and Showtime’s recent press conference for Alvarez vs Plant, which erupted into violence, proved no exception.
The UFC President unloaded on Showtime for allowing the fracas to take place and failing to ensure the safety of its fighters at a Contender series press conference.
Dana White Slams Showtime for Allowing Canelo vs Plant to Erupt At Press Conference
“How long have you been in the business that you would let two fighters go up to each other face-to-face without somebody there to try to [keep them from fighting]?
And then, when it breaks out, there’s like two women that are there before there’s a man anywhere near it. You couldn’t be f*cking dumber than what they did today, risk a massive fight with one of the biggest stars in the sport, by not having the fighters safe.”
Alvarez, who appeared to start the altercation, managed to inflict a few cuts on Plant’s face before the pair were separated.
Dana White has long been a critic of Showtime, dating back to the Mayweather vs McGregor boxing match in 2017. On the matter of their below-average security, he was sarcastic.
“I’m not surprised.Sh*t Showtime is, they’re great. Those guys are really good at what they do, from production to press conferences. They’re f*cking awesome.”
Images of Dana White personally holding UFC fighters away from each other do the rounds after many UFC press conferences. Famously, White stood between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo when McGregor snatched Aldo’s belt, and again when McGregor and Nate Diaz almost came to blows at a UFC conference.
“You can’t let two alpha males walk up to each other, face-to-face at the f*cking supper club, or wherever they were today having that press conference, and let two guys stare down without somebody to break it up. But they’re awesome, they’re great at everything they do, so it’s not shocking.”
In fact, the UFC knows the cost of letting fighters confront each other outside the Octagon all too well. Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones came to blows at a press conference in 2014, the two light heavyweights running through UFC PR man Dave Sholler.
In April of this year, Jeremy Stephens shoved Drakkar Klose at the UFC Vegas 24 presser, concussing Klose and costing the UFC a co-main event.
It might seem silly at first in the sport of fighting to try and prevent fights, but in reality the organizations, the fans, and the athletes themselves are the ones who lose when things get out of hand.
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