The UFC went all out for the upcoming UFC 306 card at the iconic ‘Sphere’ in Las Vegas on September 14. Dana White and co. have already shelled out $20 million to put on the first fight card at the world’s unique live event venue. Billed UFC Noche, the card was to commemorate the occasion of the Mexican Independence Day. Given the historic nature of the card, most were expecting it to be a blockbuster success for the promotion. However, as with all the best-laid plans of mice and men, god had different plans. The biggest Mexican combat sport by far, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, too, will fight on the same night, and even in the same city as UFC 306!

This, of course, means that Dana White and the UFC have very stiff competition for the card in which they have already invested a lot of money. Many feel this will not only harm the UFC 306 PPV and ticket sales but also those of ‘Canelo’s boxing match with Edgar Berlanga. But ‘Canelo’ doesn’t think so.

In a conversation with former UFC champs Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo on their podcast, the Mexican boxer felt the Mexican fans (whom both the UFC and Alvarez are targeting for their respective September 14 fights) having choices between competing fights was ultimately good for all parties involved.

“I feel great, the competition is good. And I think the song come for everybody. I like the competition and I think it’s good for everybody,” he said on the Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru Usman & Henry Cejudo Podcast. Alvarez, of course, had been quite dismissive of UFC Noche in a previous interview, saying that “I don’t care if the UFC is there, when Canelo fights, it’s different.” Now, however, the boxing mega-star has quite a different tone.

Dana White, too, isn’t too concerned by the competition, admitting that since UFC 306 was on Mexican Independence Day, he was expecting a few other big Mexican fights. While he did feel Canelo’s manager, Al Haymon, had ‘snatched’ the date from him, White did say that he ‘respected’ Canelo.

Canelo Alvarez teases Dmitry Bivol rematch

Many are not happy that ‘Canelo’ has chosen to fight Edgar Berlanga on September 14. After all, the boxer has been avoiding Joseph Benavidez, who has been his mandatory for some time now. Instead, he is fighting Berlanga, who is expected to be a far easier matchup for ‘Canelo’. The other fight fans have been waiting for is a rematch between ‘Canelo’ and Dmitry Bivol.

The latter, of course, had defeated the Mexican in a huge upset two years ago. And while Bivol is set to face boogeyman Artur Beterbiev in October, many, including Usman and Cejudo, are curious if and when Alvarez will rematch the Russian. And in good news for fight fans, ‘Canelo’ confirmed that he will indeed rematch Bivol, even as he was silent on the question of when.

“Yeah if it’s possible one day it’s the only fight [rematch against Dmitry Bivol] I make one more time in 170 fight with that rematch. I think it’s the only fight I will [go] up [for] and fight with him,” Alvarez said.

What are your thoughts on ‘Canelo’ Alvarez fighting on the same night as UFC 306? Let us know in the comments below.