It’s secure to say Dana White isn’t sweating the competitors with UFC 317 set to go head-to-head with Jake Paul’s upcoming boxing match in opposition to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on Saturday.
Whereas Worldwide Combat Week wraps up with a pay-per-view occasion from Las Vegas the place Ilia Topuria faces Charles Oliveira to crown a brand new light-weight champion in the primary occasion, Paul is on the point of face Julio Cesar Chavez in a boxing match from Anaheim, Calif. Ex-UFC champion Holly Holm can be on the identical card after signing with Paul’s Most Worthwhile Promotions as she returns to boxing for the primary time in over 12 years.
It’s not the primary time the UFC has confronted competitors from one other fight sport, however White confessed that he had no thought Paul was even preventing when requested concerning the battle in schedules.
“Oh actually? I didn’t even f*cking know that,” White advised MMA Preventing throughout an look at Fanatics Fest on Sunday. “I didn’t even know he was preventing in order that’s how involved I’m about it.”
The identical goes for Holm reserving her first battle since asking for her launch from the UFC.
The previous bantamweight champion nonetheless had bouts left on her deal however she was granted her launch after asking the UFC to turn out to be a free agent.
Holm initially signed with the International Combat League the place she was anticipated to compete on the promotion’s debut playing cards however the occasions have been cancelled with all indicators pointing in the direction of the GFL crashing and burning earlier than the group ever holds an occasion.
Now she’s returning to the game of boxing the place she’s already an Corridor of Famer with a outstanding 33-2-3 report throughout her profession together with title reigns throughout a number of divisions.
“Oh no shit?” White stated when requested about Holm returning to boxing.
Whereas he clearly didn’t know a lot concerning the occasion, or {that a} former UFC champion is becoming a member of Paul on the identical card, White did say he at the least discovered it “attention-grabbing” that former YouTuber turned boxer was moving into the ring with a professional opponent like Chavez.
Then once more, Chavez comes into the battle at 39 years outdated with a 2-1 report in his previous three fights courting again to 2021 and two of these bouts got here in opposition to MMA fighters after beating Uriah Corridor in a lackluster resolution and shedding to Anderson Silva.
