Dana White admits he’s not ‘thrilled’ with Zuffa Boxing debut despite doling out $200,000 in bonuses

Dana White finally got to bring his vision for boxing to life in Las Vegas, but there was plenty of room for improvement.

UFC boss White debuted the brand new Zuffa Boxing with a significant Paramount+ broadcast deal on Friday night from the Meta Apex. And while production and general fan reception was solid, the fights weren’t as exciting as could possibly be expected.

There have been just two stoppages on the night, one coming with seconds to go within the tenth and the opposite because of this of a health care provider’s decision between rounds. Nonetheless, he still dished out massive bonuses for performance and fight of the night including giving one winner $100,000 extra.

• Who’s Dana White? All it’s good to know in regards to the CEO and President of the UFC

Dana White admits he was not ‘thrilled’ after first Zuffa Boxing show

Dana White is undeniably considered one of the best promoters in combat sports history, partly because of his perfectionism and insistence on the best quality in production. And he brought that tenacity from the octagon to the boxing ring tonight for his first show on Paramount.

Nonetheless, he wasn’t over the moon with the outcomes, particularly after sitting through ten rounds of dominance from Callum Walsh within the predominant event that bordered on boring at times. And speaking on the official post-fight show, he explained his feelings on the event.

After being asked how this in comparison with UFC 30 – the primary show of his and the Fertitta Brothers’ tenure – White said: “We had never done production before. Lorenzo Fertitta was here with me tonight for the primary one.

“We all know lots greater than we knew then. 
Am I absolutely thrilled with our first one? No. Now we have numerous work to do that 12 months. Tonight was a solid night. 
The fights were great, and watch what we do over the following 12 months. We’re just going to improve and higher and higher.”

Dana White details ‘list of stuff’ he wants worked on after Zuffa Boxing debut

During his post-fight press conference, White was more detailed in what exactly he was on the lookout for. He even explained why he spent a lot time on his infamous ‘blue phone’ throughout the show.

“I actually have an entire list of stuff that we’ll undergo on Monday, meaning me and the team,” he told The Mac Life’s Oscar Willis. “But, like I’ve been saying, it took 25 years to get the UFC where it’s today and it’s a thoroughly oiled machine. We’ll do it in much less time on the boxing side.

“I used to be on the phone greater than I’m normally on the phone… Nothing really bad, however it’s just, I actually have a certain [vision]. I do know where I would like this to be, and I’m impatient. We’re constructing an entire recent team here and numerous people have never done this before so it’s going to take a while.

“But considered one of the things that we desired to do, and what we did a fantastic job of, was for those who watch this at home on TV, they don’t feel such as you were within the Apex. You don’t see any UFC stuff. 
It’s all Zuffa Boxing, Paramount, ? We literally transformed the Apex into what looked like a special arena tonight.”