UFC President Dana White recently voiced significant displeasure with his organization's production team following a notable gaffe at UFC 329. The incident involved the incorrect on-screen identification of a prominent boxing champion as an NBA player, leading to a memorable post-event tirade from White.
White typically praises his production crew for their high-quality work, even referencing their recent involvement in a high-profile White House event as an example of their capabilities. However, his patience wore thin when it came to the persistent issue of celebrity identification during broadcasts.
"I tell you all the time, my production team is amazing. We just did the White House ... and it was the greatest thing in the world to be there live and to watch it on TV," White told reporters. "I just paid Shakur Stevenson a ton of money, and for some reason, we can't figure this celebrity thing out."
The specific error that ignited White's anger occurred during a routine segment showcasing VIPs in attendance. Undefeated four-division boxing champion Shakur Stevenson, whom White had recently signed to Zuffa Boxing for a substantial sum, was expected to receive recognition. Instead, the broadcast graphic identified him as Jalen Williams, a player for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"They put him up as a f---ing OKC NBA player. Are you f---ing kidding me? It's absolutely crazy," White continued. "We are the absolute worst to ever do the celebrity thing. When we put celebrities up, we are the worst."
A Prominent Misidentification at UFC 329
The context for this incident was the highly anticipated return of Conor McGregor to the Octagon, an event that naturally attracted numerous celebrities to Las Vegas. The broadcast's customary sweep of the cageside VIPs landed on Stevenson, a significant figure in combat sports.
The misidentification was particularly galling for White because UFC 329 was intended, in part, to celebrate Stevenson's recent high-value signing. Instead of a triumphant acknowledgement, the broadcast transformed him into a basketball player, undermining the intended recognition.
White's Vehement Criticism of Production
Following the event, White recounted engaging in a heated argument backstage with his production staff. He indicated that his team attempted to defend their error by suggesting that soccer broadcasts are worse because they often do not use graphics at all for celebrity attendees.
"Oh no," White retorted, dismissing their argument. "We put up f---ing graphics and put the wrong guy's name on them. We win. We're the worst ever to do it."
Despite White's strong reaction and his readiness to make staffing changes, the athletes directly involved in the mix-up appeared to take the situation in stride.
Reactions from the Athletes Involved
Shakur Stevenson quickly took to social media, humorously commenting on the situation. He tweeted, "Yea Dana #FireTheyA--," playfully endorsing White's frustration.
Meanwhile, Jalen Williams, the NBA player mistakenly identified, also acknowledged the blunder. He shared a screenshot of the broadcast on his Instagram Stories, captioning it with a lighthearted, "Ehhh close enough."
A History of Celebrity ID Blunders
This particular incident was not an isolated occurrence for the UFC's production team. Fans may recall a similar error at UFC 306, where world champion boxer Terence Crawford was famously mislabeled as "Kendrick Lamar" on screen.
While the UFC is renowned for staging some of the most spectacular live combat sports events, these recurring celebrity identification errors suggest a need for improved pop culture fact-checking within their production process to prevent future identity mix-ups for cageside guests.
