Dana White lambasts MMA press for covering any story without confirmation following false reports of Israel Adesanya vs. Khamzat Chimaev.
Dana White criticizes MMA journalists for spreading inaccurate information about a potential fight between Israel Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev (via Imago)
The world of MMA is filled with rumors about possible matchups, which presents a challenge for UFC officials to address. Recently, news surfaced about a fight between Adesanya and Chimaev on the Saudi Arabia card, which did not sit well with White. The CEO of UFC strongly rebuked MMA media outlets for disseminating false reports.
White vehemently denied these rumors after pictures emerged online advertising the bout. Fullsend MMA, an MMA news site, shared images from the Kingdom Arena website, which promoted an event featuring Adesanya vs. Chimaev on June 23rd. The post gained significant attention before being taken down. Dana White posted an Instagram story addressing this, stating:
White’s forceful denial seemed to put an end to the speculation once and for all. While a Chimaev vs. Adesanya fight may be a possibility in the future, the UFC does not currently have plans for it.
Following Ramadan, Khamzat Chimaev expressed his interest in fighting on the Saudi Arabia card. Israel Adesanya has also discussed the potential of facing the Chechen fighter in the past. However, White clarified that this was not a topic being discussed for the June event. He criticized journalists for spreading misinformation without proper verification.
The relationship between Dana White and the MMA press has always been contentious. Both sides have exchanged harsh criticisms in the past. Recently, White accused the MMA media of instigating conflicts between athletes who are competing in different matchups.
During the UFC 287 press conference in Miami, White issued a stern warning. Previously, White and the mainstream media clashed over Fight Island. Reporters repeatedly questioned White about recent altercations between fighters who were not scheduled to face each other. White shut down these inquiries, blaming the media for creating trouble between fighters.
White expressed frustration with journalists who seek controversial content to generate clicks and attention. He accused them of lacking respect for the actual fights and believed that sensationalist media questions only escalate already tense situations. The UFC boss vowed to respond forcefully to any reporters attempting to create drama between athletes, deeming such actions unacceptable at UFC events.
According to the Source firstsportz.com