Dana White: Promoters & DAZN Are “Crazy” to Have Canelo vs. Sergey Kovalev up Against UFC 244
By FCF Staff
An all-star boxing match between Canelo Alvarez and Sergey Kovalev is taking place the same night as UFC 244. But, UFC President Dana White is apparently not worried about that night’s competition.
UFC 244 will take place on November 2nd at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and will feature Jorge Masvidal versus Nate Diaz in the main event. That same night in Las Vegas, the boxing superstar Canelo is moving up two weight classes to challenge the WBO light heavyweight champ, Kovalev.
During a pre-fight presser for UFC 244, White was asked about the competition the card’s facing, and he said this (quotes via MMA Junkie):
“We started talking about this date, and then a week later, I heard they were going to do that fight,” White said. “I think they’re crazy to go the same night as us on DAZN, but it is what it is.”
“If they time it right and they do this thing the right way, it could be very much like the other night (at UFC on ESPN+ 16), when (Justin) Gaethje fought (Donald) ‘Cowboy’ (Cerrone), and then the (Tyson) Fury fight was on after. If they time it right, it could work out. But if they want to go head to head, they’re (expletive) nuts.”
Some of the other notable bouts scheduled for UFC 244 include Kelvin Gastelum versus Darren Till, Stephen Thompson versus Vicente Luque and Derrick Lewis versus Blagoy Ivanov.