After UFC 281 Loss, Dana White Likens Michael Chandler to an Italian Boxing Legend

The Octagon returned to Madison Square Garden in New York on November 12. The highlight of the main event was the middleweight championship contest between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira. In the eagerly awaited battle, Pereira eliminated Adesanya through a technical knockout. Despite the fact that this ended Adesanya’s reign as champion, a rematch is quite plausible. The fans were also entertained by Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler’s battle, which was titled ‘Fight of the Night’. After the fight, which Chandler lost by third-round submission, UFC president Dana White compared Chandler to a great Italian boxer.

Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler’s thrilling fight at lightweight changed the course of the event. Both fighters received an additional bonus of $50,000 for participating in this fight, which was dubbed the ‘Fight of the Night’. Despite the fact that Michael Chandler lost the fight, Dana White said that “Michael Chandler is like our Arturo Gatti,” comparing him to the legendary Italian boxer Arturo Gatti.

Two-time world champion Arturo Gatti held the IBF super featherweight and WBC light welterweight titles in his heyday. He had a professional record of 40-9 and was one of the most impressive boxers at the time. In his illustrious career, Gatti has faced off against boxing greats like Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather.

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White’s comments appear to praise Chandler and compare him to Gatti because, win or lose, both fighters always put on a fantastic performance.

Dana White comments on the fighter pay in the UFC 

According to Forbes, the salary for UFC fighters has remained constant for about 11 years. A lot of people believe that the fighters’ pay is significantly lower than what the UFC makes. YouTuber turned boxer, Jake Paul is also eyeing organizing a union to oppose White’s low fighter pay and healthcare policies.

While talking to GQ Sports, White said, “Fighters always want to make more money. Boxing has absolutely been destroyed because of money and all the things that go on. [A change in fighter pay is] never gonna happen while I’m here, believe me, these guys get paid what they’re supposed to get paid. They eat what they kill. They get a percentage of the pay-per-view (PPV) buys and the money is spread out amongst all the fighters.”

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The pressure for increasing the fighter pay is increasing by the day. But only time will tell if White really makes it happen. Meanwhile, what do you think about White’s remarks on Chandler? Let us know in the comments below.