UFC 303: Dana White Rubs Conor McGregor’s $20M Plus Gate on ‘Weasel’ Stephen Espinoza; UFC CEO Reignites Combat Sports Rivalry

UFC head honcho Dana White and former supremo of Showtime boxing before it was dissolved, Stephen Espinoza have been beefing for a long time now. Their feud started the day when Conor McGregor fought Floyd Mayweather which arguably made the biggest PPV sales in the history of the promotion. However, Espinoza ridiculed Dana White for making baseless statements as other fights of Mayweather have made more money according to him and this was the starting of their prolonged beef.

Before Showtime Boxing closed in late 2023, Espinoza reignited the f͏eud when he commented that the UFC͏ ͏had yet to generate a gate exce͏eding 20 million, adding that they might never achieve it. This remark by the ͏fo͏rm͏er h͏ead of Showtime͏ B͏oxing was taken seriously by͏ the͏ UFC ͏supremo, who was determined to prove h͏i͏m w͏ro͏ng. And it seems like he finally succeed͏ed.

Dana White attacks Stephen Espinoza as he hints toward biggest PPV for Conor McGregor’s return

Conor McGregor is finally making his return to the Octagon after three years of exile from the promotion due to his shin injury. The former dual-weight champion of the world is set to clash against Michael Chandler in the welterweight division in June on UFC 303. McGregor emphasized that he is planning to make his return one of the biggest returns of the decade but how much of it is possible?

UFC has yet to surpass that $20 million PPV UFC gate in its history. Could it potentially exceed that threshold this time around? Well according to UFC head Dana White, it can. While having a post-fight presser of UFC St.Louis, Dana White was asked about his opinion on McGregor’s return and if he is thinking of breaching the $20 million mark this time, to which White claimed that it will be way over $20 million. “Its way over twenty million,” said White.

When the reporter reminded Dana White about Stephen Espinoza’s quotes regarding the UFC never making a $20 million gate in its history, it angered the UFC CEO as he lashed out at Espinoza, “Who gives a flying f*ck what Espinoza, Where is Espinoza! Who gives a sh*t.” Their banter is not something new. Well, this is the second time the UFC CEO attacked the former Showtime boxing head for the $20 million jibe.

The time when White lashed out at Stephen Espinoza for the $20 million gate jibe

Durin͏g the pre-fight press con͏ference last year fo͏r Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo, ͏Espinoza la͏unched an attack on͏ the UF͏C CEO, sta͏ting that they had achieved multiple $20 million ͏gates wi͏thin͏ six mon͏ths, whereas the UFC had never accomplis͏hed such a feat in its history. This sharp jab was not t͏aken lightly by the UFC CEO.

“That’s exactly the type of response I would expect from that weasel Espinoza. That scumbag has absolutely nothing to do with the success of Canelo, Ryan Garcia, and Terrence Crawford. Those guys are megastars and they are the ones responsible for driving the gates in their fights. For him to even try and take any credit at all shows you exactly what an arrogant, delusional POS that guy is,” said Dana White in a conversation with the media.

In the ongoing saga, it appears that Dana White is coming out on top, with the UFC still thriving while Showtime Boxing has discontinued. Nonetheless, what are your thoughts on this? Share your opinion in the comments below!