Dana White fires back at Don King over attempt to stop Zuffa Boxing fight

Dana White insists that the Jai Opetaia versus Noel Mikaelian cruiserweight unification bout will proceed as scheduled on September 12 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, despite a cease-and-desist order filed by Don King Promotions against Zuffa Boxing.

Don King Promotions claims exclusive worldwide promotional rights to WBC cruiserweight champion Mikaelian and alleges that Zuffa Boxing engaged the fighter without authorization, constituting tortious interference with their contract. DKP's legal letter accused Zuffa of attempting to bypass them after negotiations between the two entities broke down, and demanded immediate cancellation of the bout.

White, speaking at the post-event press conference following Dana White's Contender Series Week 5, dismissed the legal threat and reaffirmed the fight's status. "He's fighting this weekend," White said plainly. The UFC president criticized boxing's regulatory environment more broadly, saying: "This f*cking sport is the most unsophisticated sport that I've ever seen in my life. It's f*cked up for a reason." He also pushed back against DKP's interference allegations, stating: "I've always had good dealings with Don. Have you ever seen a scenario where we go and try to interfere with somebody's contract? We don't do it."

The dispute highlights the complex promoter-fighter dynamics that occasionally surface in combat sports, as heavyweight promoters clash over fighter rights and bout arrangements. The legal outcome and whether the fight proceeds remains to be seen, though White's public stance suggests confidence in moving forward.