A past beloved figure in the UFC community expresses skepticism regarding Dana White’s ambitious declarations for the forthcoming White House fight card, anticipating they will not meet expectations.
Dana White, the chief executive of the UFC, along with the event organizers, is nearing completion of arrangements for the highly anticipated event scheduled to take place at the White House. Mr. White, who initially revealed intentions for this spectacle last summer, recently put forth a striking forecast, stating that this particular card is poised to become the ‘most-viewed UFC event in history’.
Although the primary attraction for the forthcoming White House event remains undisclosed, a prospective headline contest under consideration involves a lightweight championship unification bout featuring Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. Furthermore, Kayla Harrison, the current UFC women’s bantamweight titleholder, whose planned return against Amanda Nunes at UFC 324 was anticipated, is reportedly strategizing a comeback for this very card, once again facing the former dual-weight class champion.
Numerous prominent athletes have conveyed substantial eagerness to participate in the event. Nevertheless, in spite of White’s grand assurances, a renowned UFC veteran holds the opinion that his forecasts are unlikely to materialize, attributing this to the organization’s current scarcity of top-tier talent.
Matt Brown: Dana White and the UFC lack the necessary prominent fighters for the White House event
During a recent installment of The Fighter vs. The Writer program, esteemed UFC veteran Matt Brown offered a rather unfavorable prognosis regarding the impending White House fight night.
“It is challenging to conceive that you are not [predisposing yourself to letdown],” Brown remarked concerning White.
“This is because the organization no longer possesses the caliber of star athletes it once did, and Conor McGregor will not be participating. I am utterly indifferent to any declarations made by others or by McGregor himself; I similarly disregard what Dana [White] asserts. His name is being utilized for promotional purposes to publicize the event. He will absolutely not be competing in that particular spectacle.
“My view is that an even more substantial concern arises from the fact that while they are capable of arranging some quite noteworthy and compelling bouts, the question becomes, ‘What about fighters from the United States?’” Brown elaborated on White’s predicament. “The event is slated for the White House premises. This presents a challenge, as there are currently very few American [superstars] within the roster. That constitutes an issue. The only alternative is if they decide to completely disregard the nationality aspect and say, ‘We will simply make it an international affair,’ which, in my estimation, is practically unavoidable given that the UFC is, by its very nature, a global sport.”
Mr. White recently asserted that the roster of fighters for the White House spectacle has been ‘confirmed’, with official disclosures anticipated within the next few weeks. The occasion is set to occur on June 14th, utilizing the southern lawn area of the presidential residence.
Which matchups are you hoping to witness at the White House event? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section!
