Dana White didn’t hold back when addressing Eddie Hearn once again, firing off another pointed critique in the latest chapter of their ongoing war of words. Speaking at his UFC Winnipeg post-fight scrum, White dismissed Hearn’s recent comments with blunt force, taking aim not only at the promoter himself but at what he sees as a broader issue within the sport of boxing.
“Listen, Eddie says a lot of dumb sh*t,” White told Cageside Press among other media at his post-fight scrum.
“I’m getting used to it. Eddie said that me and him are the biggest fight in boxing. There in lies the problem with boxing, and the fact that a fight promoter who’s actually put on big fights and have a stable of good fighters would say something that f*cking stupid is starting to not be as shocking as it was in the beginning.”
White didn’t mince words when addressing Hearn and other criticisms surrounding his latest ventures outside the UFC, particularly with Zuffa Boxing. The promoter pushed back against detractors questioning recent deals and the direction of his involvement in the sport. Framing the criticism as noise, White doubled down on letting results speak for themselves moving forward.
“You’re a f*cking bum, I’m old, and we don’t even deserve to be on a card with a bunch of real fighters, number one. Number two, everybody’s talking sh*t about Conor Benn and the deal that we made,” he said.
“I will say this like I said a few months ago; sit back, watch what we do this year, and then judge us by our body of work at the end of the year. I said that a few months ago and look where we are now and what we’re doing.”
White continued his critique of the boxing industry, expanding his frustration beyond promoters to include what he sees as a growing chorus of self-proclaimed experts online.
Speaking candidly, White took aim at both the structure of the sport and the voices that frequently weigh in on it, arguing that his firsthand experience has only reinforced his long-held beliefs. He’s clearly grown weary of the criticism specially when it comes to the deals Zuffa Boxing has made with up-and-coming star Conor Benn.
“It’s funny because I knew how f*cked up boxing was, but I never really realized how bad it was and how bad these guys that run the sport are at what they did until I got into it,” he said.
“Then all these guys on the internet that are so smart and such f*cking experts in the fight business man. Just because you have $35 and can start a f*cking website, and do a podcast means you’re some type of expert…you guys should be running f*cking Bellator and PFL and ONE FC. Go help these guys out man!”
As far as Benn is concerned, the long-time UFC president made it clear that he’s a fan.
“He’s been incredible. He’s a great kid, hilarious, very positive person. I like him,” said White.
“So far, so good.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Dana White above.