Dana White explains Shakur Stevenson’s Zuffa exit

White says he offered Stevenson his release after just months together

UFC CEO Dana White has spoken out for the first time about the situation with Shakur Stevenson. He explained that he apparently offered to terminate the contract, which ended their partnership without the two ever having fought. At the UFC 333 event, he was asked what the difference was between the situation with Shakur Stevenson and that of some UFC fighters who want to leave their contracts.

“Listen, man. I think that everybody's involved. They're happy, you know, with where we're at with it. I have nothing bad to say about him or his team, but I offered him the release, and they accepted”

he said.

When asked why UFC fighters are often tied to their contracts for so long and Shakur Stevenson, White referred to the brief collaboration the two had with each other.

“Well, we never even did one fight with the guy. We were in business with him for a couple months”

he said.

This may not be a valid reason, but he probably knows that himself. To be fair, though, you also have to consider the significance of the UFC in the MMA world and Zuffa in the boxing world. Of course, you can’t get away with as much at the beginning as you can when you’re leading the market. Still, a specific reason for the end of Shakur Stevenson’s contract was once again not mentioned.