UFC CEO Dana White insists he never gives rivals bad tickets, despite Oscar De La Hoya skipping a recent co-promotion fight.
UFC Chief Executive Officer Dana White addressed ongoing tensions with boxing promoter Oscar De La Hoya, firmly denying allegations that he purposely assigned him poor seating arrangements for a recent high-profile combat sports event.
The dispute centers around the recent bout between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn, which was organized as a co-promotion between Golden Boy Promotions and ZUFFA Boxing, backed by Turki Alalshikh and significant financial resources from Saudi Arabia.
According to statements made following a Contender Series event, White rejected claims of a deliberate setup, according to information published by mmamania.
The Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn Co-Promotion Conflict
The latest feud ignited when Oscar De La Hoya claimed he skipped the Ryan Garcia versus Conor Benn fight because he suspected a setup to humiliate him publicly in front of peers and media members.
De La Hoya told Fight Hub TV that he refused to attend after discovering his assigned seats were located in a celebrity VIP area rather than traditional ringside positions usually reserved for major combat sports promoters.
Dana White flatly refuted these accusations during a post-event press conference, stating that he would never resort to such tactics against industry rivals or enemies within the boxing and mixed martial arts communities.
Dana White Discusses Vince McMahon Ticket Incident
To emphasize his point, Dana White recalled a past personal experience involving former WWE head honcho Vince McMahon during Ronda Rousey's professional wrestling debut in New Orleans.
White explained that he traveled to the event only to discover initial ticket issues and eventual placement in the upper level bleachers, a situation he described as an actual instance of poor treatment.
Having experienced that situation firsthand, White insisted he understands how frustrating it feels and reiterated that he would never subject even his worst adversaries to similar humiliation.
Clarifying the Celebrity VIP Seating Arrangements
Addressing the specifics of the seating controversy, Dana White clarified that Oscar De La Hoya was actually assigned to a designated celebrity VIP section meant for prominent guests arriving through the back entrance.
White argued that while De La Hoya might have suspected foul play, the placement was standard for non-participating high-profile attendees rather than an intentional effort to undermine the head of Golden Boy Promotions.
The ongoing rivalry between the two combat sports figures continues to generate headlines, running parallel to White's frequent public disputes with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Oscar De La Hoya skip the Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn fight?
Oscar De La Hoya skipped the fight because he believed he was being set up to be embarrassed with poor seating assignments instead of traditional ringside promoter tickets.
What did Dana White say about the ticket allegations?
Dana White denied the claims, stating that while his dislike for Oscar De La Hoya is mutual, he would never intentionally assign someone bad tickets to embarrass them.
Who is Turki Alalshikh in relation to ZUFFA Boxing?
Turki Alalshikh is the financial backer utilizing Saudi Arabia oil money to support ZUFFA Boxing operations and major upcoming combat sports events.
What past ticket experience did Dana White share?
Dana White recalled attending Ronda Rousey's WWE debut in New Orleans where former executive Vince McMahon placed him in the bleachers.
