UFC President Dana White has firmly rejected the idea of using any UFC platform to host boxing matches for his star champions, including Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria. This stance effectively shuts down recent discussions among his fighters about pursuing crossover bouts.
Dana White’s Resolute Stance at UFC London
During the UFC London post-fight press conference, White was directly asked if his Zuffa Boxing brand might ever facilitate crossover fights for Pereira or Topuria, both of whom have openly expressed aspirations for a future in boxing. White’s response was an emphatic “no way in hell,” adding that he would never oversee such events. He explicitly labeled crossover events as “s**t” that fundamentally do not align with the UFC’s core identity.
White underscored that his primary objective remains to pit the world’s best fighters against each other under mixed martial arts rules, rather than organizing one-off spectacles involving boxers. He suggested that “other networks and other people” are equipped to handle crossover events, but emphatically declared, “that is not what I do.” This statement indicates that even with his long-anticipated Zuffa Boxing venture, he has no intention of adopting the crossover model popularized by other promoters.
Alex Pereira’s Enduring Boxing Ambition
Alex Pereira, the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion and a former two-division kickboxing titleholder, has been transparent for many months about his intention to transition into professional boxing once his MMA career concludes. In a recent interview, Pereira stated he is “definitely going to box” and confidently noted that he has already overcome skeptics in both kickboxing and MMA.
The Brazilian knockout artist frames a boxing campaign as a personal challenge rather than a pursuit of financial gain, asserting that “it’s not about aiming for more money” and that he “just wants to go out there and fight.” Last year, he even considered a potential superfight against unified heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, briefly fueling speculation about a high-profile cross-code clash. However, White’s recent comments have largely extinguished that narrative.
Ilia Topuria’s Vision for a Complete Transition
Ilia Topuria, the undisputed UFC featherweight champion, has provided an even clearer indication that he envisions boxing as his subsequent career chapter after MMA. In an interview with the Spanish publication Marca, Topuria revealed he has “always wanted to try his hand at boxing” and admitted he doesn’t anticipate remaining in MMA “too long.”
The Georgian-Spanish star explained his desire to “finish his story in mixed martial arts” before making a full transition, arguing that constantly shifting between MMA and boxing training camps would not be “very professional.” Topuria highlighted the necessity of adapting to boxing-specific timing, training methodologies, and the unique ring environment. He predicted that his eventual move “is going to surprise more than a few people,” a declaration that now stands in stark contrast to Dana White’s categorical refusal to facilitate any UFC-backed boxing showcase.
Dana White’s unequivocal remarks draw a clear organizational boundary between UFC championship campaigns and the kind of boxing ventures that have recently generated significant pay-per-view headlines elsewhere. While Pereira and Topuria continue to discuss their long-term plans in the boxing ring, these ambitions will have to remain on hold until they fulfill or conclude their UFC contractual obligations, as their promoter has made it abundantly clear he will not promote them in boxing under his own banner.
