UFC CEO Dana White “called out his production team” after it misidentified boxer Shakur Stevenson as Thunder G Jalen Williams on the on-screen graphic during UFC 329. The broadcast later returned to Stevenson with the correct ID. Stevenson’s signing with Zuffa Boxing was announced Thursday. White said, “I just paid Shakur Stevenson a s---load of money, and for some reason we can’t figure this celebrity s--- out. They put him up as a f---ing OKC NBA player. Are you f---ing kidding me? It’s absolutely crazy. ... We are the absolute worst to ever do the celebrity thing” (OKLAHOMAN, 7/12). In 2024, a UFC broadcast identified boxer Terence Crawford as singer Kendrick Lamar (SBJ).
Fever F Sophie Cunningham served as a ring card girl for the co-main event, with White saying that her appearance was arranged “about eight minutes before she was in the ring.” White said, “I love Sophie Cunningham. We’ve created a relationship with her. She was here tonight and when she got here, she said, ‘Oh, I want to walk around that‘” (X, 7/12). Cunningham was in Las Vegas on Saturday night ahead of the Fever’s game against the Aces on Sunday (SBJ).
Among the celebrities in attendance at UFC 329 were Oasis’ Noel Gallagher with his two sons; Mike Tyson; Tucker Carlson; Vince Vaughn; Mel Gibson; Theo Von; UFC champion Mackenzie Dern; Alex Pereia; and boxers Conor Benn and Ryan Garcia, who are expected to face off Sept. 12, pending contract issues being resolved (SBJ).
