Oscar De La Hoya and UFC boss Dana White reignite their bitter feud over an alleged plot to humiliate him

• UFC Chief Executive Dana White firmly denied claims of setting a trap to embarrass Oscar De La Hoya at the Garcia vs Benn event.

• White compared the dispute to a personal incident where Vince McMahon left him without tickets at a WWE WrestleMania show.

• De La Hoya decision to skip the joint Zuffa Boxing production has reignited one of combat sports most famous personal feuds.

The long standing personal animosity between UFC Chief Executive Dana White and Hall of Fame boxer turned promoter Oscar De La Hoya has reignited following controversial claims surrounding the high profile WBC title fight between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn. After De La Hoya opted to skip the joint promotional event in protest, claiming that White and his production team were setting up a deliberate plot to humiliate him and disrespect his staff, White publicly addressed the allegations to firmly reject his rival narrative.

 

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Una publicación compartida por MMA Fighting (@mmafighting)

White refutes sabotage claims and recalls Vince McMahon snub

Speaking to reporters following a recent Contender Series event, Dana White dismissed the notion that he would ever orchestrate a public embarrassment against an opponent, despite their well known mutual dislike. To illustrate his point, White recalled a personal experience involving former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon during Ronda Rousey debut match in New Orleans, where White arrived at the box office only to discover no tickets had been left for him, forcing him to make emergency calls before eventually watching the show from standard arena seating.

Clarifying the VIP seating arrangement and executive logistics

Addressing reports regarding De La Hoya seating arrangements, White insisted that the Golden Boy Promotions founder was fully aware of his ticket placement inside the designated VIP celebrity section. White emphasized that while he would never invite someone he disliked to an event under false pretenses, he would also never mistreat an individual who was actively involved in a co-promotional business deal. Regarding complaints about the treatment of Golden Boy staff, White directed De La Hoya to address those concerns with Zuffa Boxing co-owner Turki Alalshikh.

Professional standards amidst an enduring personal rivalry

While acknowledging that his relationship with De La Hoya remains deeply fractured and beyond repair, White maintained that his personal feelings do not interfere with professional event management. The UFC boss reiterated that even fighters or business partners he personally dislikes are always treated fairly within his promotional ecosystem, reaffirming that despite their heated public exchanges, intentionally humiliating an industry peer at a major pay-per-view event is a line he would never cross.

A lasting conflict in combat sports promotion

This latest public dispute underscores the persistent volatility surrounding cross-promotional events in modern combat sports. As both Zuffa Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions navigate their future business landscapes, the unresolved tension between White and De La Hoya serves as a reminder that personal grievances often overshadow multi-million dollar co-productions, keeping sports fans and media members thoroughly entertained by the ongoing drama behind the scenes.

Cover photos from: @danawhite – @oscardelahoya