Despite not being directly involved in the event, Dana White closely observed its proceedings and expressed his delight at its remarkable success. The occasion, which coincided with Mexican Independence Day, left a lasting impression on White, motivating him to make a bold decision.
White now has ambitious plans to host a yearly show in Las Vegas on the very same date, even though it typically belongs to Mexican boxing legend Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. In an unexpected move, the undisputed super-middleweight champion, Canelo, chose to reschedule his bout with Jermell Charlo to September 30, avoiding a direct clash with the UFC event. However, White’s determination suggests that a repeat of such avoidance next year seems unlikely.
Unfazed by the potential competition, White made a resolute promise to the media after the event on Saturday, stating, “I will go that date every time.” He emphasised his readiness to challenge anyone in the city for the coveted date, even if it meant competing in an opposing arena. White firmly asserted, “I’ll go head-to-head with them next year.”
This bold stance is not a one-time move; White plans to adhere to this strategy throughout his tenure. Reflecting on the event’s resounding success, he stated, “This thing was a massive success for us.” White’s commitment to this venture is evident in his long-held vision since acquiring the company. He emphasised, “All my chips are in on Mexico. We’re opening the PI [Performance Institute], which we’ve spent millions and millions of dollars on.”
During a conversation with reporters, White shared his thought process leading up to the groundbreaking event, saying, “I was in here talking to you guys. We were talking about, ‘Why aren’t you doing it?’ I said, ‘You know what, you’re absolutely right, why am I not doing that?'”
Dana White on UFC Noche Success
The decision to proceed with the event on Mexican Independence Day turned out to be a resounding success, reinforcing White’s commitment to making it an annual tradition. He declared, “We did it, it was huge, and we’ll do it again every year, regardless of whether boxing goes or doesn’t go. I will go head-to-head with them every year.”
Despite the overall success of Noche UFC, White did express disappointment with the judging in the main event between Grasso and Shevchenko. In particular, he singled out Mike Bell, who raised eyebrows by scoring the final round 10-8 in favor of the champion. White went so far as to call for an investigation into what he described as the “craziest” scorecard he had ever encountered.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
