Dana White recently promoted a pair of boxing fights on his social media account! Sounds unbelievable? That’s the same reaction the fans online had to the UFC boss’s latest update. But could there be something more to the story? In a recent post shared on Instagram, an enthusiastic White stated, “What’s up everybody, I’m about to film the Contender Series then I’m jumping on a plane and flying to Dublin, Ireland for the boxing match this weekend. Friday, September 20th from the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, Walsh vs Runowski.”

Callum Walsh, the Irish rising star, currently holds the WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight title and will be facing off against Przemyslaw Runowski. The event is also being presented by UFC Fight Pass, and in a statement made to the official UFC.com website, the UFC boss had shared, “I am very invested in this fight in Dublin and I’m really excited to not only bring a fight back to Ireland but to be sitting ringside to see Callum fight in his home country…”

However, that wasn’t all! Towards the end of his Instagram post, White also reminded fans that, “ Joshua vs Dubois is live, Saturday, from Wembley on DAZN”. This unexpected plug for a rival boxing event left fans puzzled. Why would White promote a sport and competitors he’s criticized for years? After all, in a 2022 interview with ‘BLOCK Party’, the UFC boss had bluntly stated, “Every time I try to think about doing something with boxing, I go, ‘Why would I want to do this to myself?…Why would I even want to dive into this nightmare?”

So, does this mean that Dana White has now had a change of heart? Or is there something or someone who is responsible for the pivot by the UFC supremo? Here’s a look at what the netizens had to say about the situation!

Fans “never thought” they’d see the day when Dana White would be promoting boxing fights

One fan brought up the fact that White’s previously been vocal about his criticism of the sport of boxing and the business environment that surrounds it. In 2019, White didn’t hold anything back as he claimed, “The (boxing) model is broken, we all know it. Everybody knows it. You don’t have to be a (expletive) rocket scientist to figure that out.” What has changed now?

“I thought you hated boxing?”

According to a post on X by ‘The MMA Guru’, there’s a simple reason behind the change in directions. The chairman of the Saudi Arabian GEA (General Entertainment Authority) and a powerful figure in the world of combat sports, HE Turki Alalshikh. The two have already collaborated for UFC events like the recent UFC 306 which was sponsored by ‘Riyadh Season’ as a title partner.  

“@THATBOYMMAGURU: “@Turki_alalshikh has got DANA WHITE promoting Joshua vs Dubois like he would do for a UFC title fight. Never thought I’d see the day”

While others had a different take on the situation. Anthony Joshua’s last fight was against Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion who exited the promotion due to contract disputes  As such, one fan hinted that White promoting the British boxer’s fight may be a way to get in another subtle jab against ‘The Predator’.

“think its because what AJ did to Danas rival (Ngannou’s picture)”

But what if this is the first step of an entirely new venture in the world of boxing? Earlier this year, in a conversation with Sports Business Journal, Dana White was asked to share his thoughts on HE Turki Alalshikh’s vision of setting up a new boxing league that may use the UFC’s structure as a foundation which was referred to by another fan. White’s response? He had simply stated, “It’s a possibility. It’s definitely a possibility. This guy is making fights no one else can make.”

“dana is part of the new boxing league that turki wanted to form”

Will this mean we get to see a UFC card that features both sports in the same event? One fan claimed that White’s involvement in boxing may be the impending sign of something massive in the world of combat sports!

“we are getting closer to a mixed ufc/boxing event”

To wrap things up, as fans and critics continue to speculate, one thing is clear: Dana White’s recent moves in the boxing world are turning heads. Whether it’s a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia or an evolution in his own approach, the UFC boss is keeping everyone guessing. After all, in the fight business, anything can happen. So, is this the start of a new era for Dana White and the UFC? Let us know what you think in the comments below!