Dana White’s decision to enter boxing was always going to be met with criticism, but Todd duBoef’s recent statements have added fuel to the debate. After Conor Benn signed a one-fight contract worth $15 million with White’s Zuffa Boxing, duBoef, the president of Top Rank Boxing, questioned whether the UFC CEO is now doing the same things he spent years criticizing boxing promoters for.

Speaking about the situation, Todd duBoef stated that the issue isn’t just the money but the way that the deal came together compared to what Dana White used to say about the sport.

“Dana, words meet your actions, actions meet your words,” he told Ariel Helwani. “I listen to all of his stuff, where he used to just destroy the boxing promoters that we take no risk. We don’t just show up; we leverage everything for one night.

“And then I see him tattooing himself on an island between Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez, and a photo op where he’s not doing anything. He didn’t take any risk on that fight. He’s not doing that. He’s just standing there like one of us shmucky promoters in between two guys… It just feels off to me.”

The Top Rank president also pointed out that the $15 million Conor Benn deal raised questions about who is actually paying the fighters and who is taking the financial risk.

“And then they say, ‘Oh, and we’re not paying Connor Ben,'” duBoef continued. “What did you do? Who signed him then? I don’t understand. It’s like I can’t figure out.

“I wish there was a consistency between what he criticizes us for and what the actions you’re going to do to change it.”

Todd duBoef made it clear that while he still admires what Dana White accomplished with the UFC, he believes the new boxing venture doesn’t follow the same model.

In his opinion, the UFC works because one organization controls everything, but the recent boxing deals seem to involve outside partners, shared funding, involvement of sanctioning bodies, and various promoters—the very system Dana White originally called out.

As a result, the president of Top Rank believes the situation appears to be less of a boxing revolution and more of the same business structure, but with a different name on the banner. So, would his words affect the UFC head honcho? Well, not exactly.

Because while Bob Arum’s stepson is busy criticizing Dana White for his hypocrisy, the Zuffa boxing head is celebrating after striking a boxing broadcasting deal with Eddie Hearn’s forner partner.

Dana White celebrates as Zuffa Boxing finds a new broadcast home

While Todd duBoef continues to question Zuffa Boxing’s business model, Dana White is pushing forward with his project. Amidst all the criticism, the UFC CEO stated that his new promotion has taken another significant step forward with a broadcast deal outside the United States.

Zuffa Boxing has secured a multi-year deal with Sky Sports, making the network the promotion’s official home in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The partnership is significant because Sky Sports previously worked with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, adding to the rivalry between Dana White and traditional boxing promoters.

The Zuffa boss described the partnership as a major milestone for the new promotion.

“The UK has played such a pivotal role throughout the history of boxing,” White said. “The fans there are some of the most loyal and passionate in the world.

“When you talk about boxing in that region, Sky Sports has always been the home for legendary boxing fights. There’s no bigger or better platform to showcase the best boxing in the UK.”

With Paramount+ already showing events in the United States and Sky Sports on board in the United Kingdom, Dana White appears to be focused on growing the brand rather than responding to criticism. The new deal suggests that, despite the backlash over recent moves like the Conor Benn signing, Zuffa Boxing is continuing to grow.