The world of combat sports is gearing up for a major tournament on September 14, with two highly anticipated matches taking place on the same night. UFC 306: Riyadh’s season is set to be notched UFC, when boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez will defend his undisputed super middleweight title against rising star Edgar Berlanga. However, in a recent interview, Berlanga expressed concern about this overlap, suggesting that the dates could have been avoided.
Berlang Call to Canelo: Respect the UFC
Edgar Berlanga, known for his explosive power and sequential scoring, has said he wants the date of his fight with Canelo Alvarez to be changed. Speaking on the ‘Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru and Henry’ podcast, Berlanga acknowledged his respect for the UFC and hinted that he would have chosen a different path instead of Canelo.
“I’m not going to lie, man, because I’ve got a lot of respect for the UFC,” Berlanga said. “If I was in Canelo’s shoes, I’d personally say, ‘Yo, let’s push the date up… Give [him] to the UFC.’ ”
Despite his feelings, Berlang admitted that Canelo Alvarez, one of the biggest stars in boxing, is unlikely to change the date of the fight. Berlanga pointed out that Canelo’s pride and status in the game played a major role in his decision.
“But Canelo is a very arrogant guy. Obviously, you see him going back and forth with Turkey [Alalshikh] and things like that. He feels like he’s rich… he’s that guy, you know,” Berlanga added.
Dana White’s Real Rival: MGM, not Canelo
While Berlang’s focus is on a potential fight with the UFC, UFC president Dana White is headed elsewhere. White explained that his Sept. 14 bout is not Canelo Alvarez but MGM, the company behind T-Mobile Arena, where the UFC usually holds events.
At a recent Contender Series press conference, White expressed frustration with MGM executives, accusing them of disrespecting the UFC over the years. “When I say MGM, it’s the guys who drive [T-Mobile Arena] that really look down on us from day one of the relationship,” White said.
According to White, tensions with MGM reached a point where the company’s CEO, Bill Hornbuckle, had to intervene. The decision was for the UFC to hold the event at the Sphere, a state-of-the-art venue, on September 14, a temporary departure from its usual partnership with MGM
“Bill Hornbuckle, the guy who runs MGM now, had to get in the middle of this thing and try to fix it. That’s how I ended up in the round. It’s a one-size-fits-all. We’ll be back with MGM, and hopefully Bill can figure this thing out between us and the f—ing guys who run the theater,” White added.
UFC vs. Boxing on September 14th
The simultaneous organization of these two major events has created a unique atmosphere in the world of combat sports. The UFC and boxing fans will have a tough choice on Sept. 15. 14. While Edgar Berlang’s concerns about overlap are understandable, the focus on the ongoing feud between Dana White and MGM executives suggests that a date fight could be inevitable.
As fight night approaches, Canelo Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga look to make a statement inside the boxing ring, as the UFC continues to push boundaries with its performance in the Sphere and the outcome of these events could have a lasting impact forever on the relationship between the UFC and MGM.
