UFC president Dana White will be shifting his focus from mixed martial arts to boxing to produce The Fighters , a new series about the Boston boxing scene.
White, a former amateur boxer, trainer, and manager, has teamed up with The Ultimate Fighter executive producer Craig Piligian for the series, which will premiere on Discovery Channel in 2014. Both men will serve as executive producers on The Fighters . A premiere date has not been finalized, nor how many episodes will air in a season.
White declined to disclose the format of the series, but confirmed that it will only feature boxing . The 44-year-old tweeted a teaser clip for The Fighters , which will also feature White’s longtime friend and former business partner, trainer Peter Welch.
Following UFC 167 last Saturday, Dana White said he believes referees and judges should have experience “rolling” before they can officiate fights.
“First of all, boxing judges (are) refereeing mixed martial arts fights. There’s no mixed martial artist, former mixed martial artist, or anybody who knows enough,” White said. “I don’t think that you should be judging or reffing a fight unless you’ve actually rolled and know what a submission feels like. How about know what a submission is? How about that first … let alone mixed martial arts.”
White was speaking, of course, about the controversy surrounding welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre’s split decision victory over Johny Hendricks. White said he scored the fight in Hendricks’ favor, and slammed the Nevada State Athletic Commission for their poor handling of the bout.
“I think the Nevada State Athletic Commission is atrocious,” White said. “I think the governor needs to step in immediately before these guys destroy this sport like they did boxing.” He also said he was afraid to come back to Nevada because of the “incompetence” on the part of the NSAC.
