UFC president Dana White and Oscar De La Hoya do not like each other – and they showed that once again in an exchange on Twitter.
The bad blood between the MMA and boxing promoters has been long-standing, but reignited following the conclusion of UFC 266. After the featherweight title fight between champion Alexander Volkanovski and challenger Brian Ortega concluded, De La Hoya tweeted at the former a message critical about the UFC’s fighter pay system.
“Hey @alexvolkanovski you just won a brutal battle for @ufc and made 1/20 of what you’re worth,” De La Hoya wrote. “@danawhite have some f*cking respect for yourself and these fighters and pay these warriors what they deserve.”
Hey @alexvolkanovski you just won a brutal battle for @ufc and made 1/20 of what you’re worth. @danawhite have some fucking respect for yourself and these fighters and pay these warriors what they deserve
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) September 26, 2021
Less than one hour later, the UFC boss, who seldom tweets personal attacks these days, clapped back. White accused De La Hoya of lying about a recent bout with COVID-19, which knocked him out of a Triller boxing match against former UFC champion Vitor Belfort.
“STFU U crack head,” White wrote. “Faking that u had Covid and robbing me of watching u get KTFO by @vitorbelfort you should win an academy award for your hospital performance.
STFU U crack head. Faking that u had Covid and robbing me of watching u get KTFO by @vitorbelfort you should win an academy award for your hospital performance.
— danawhite (@danawhite) September 26, 2021
The sentiment of rooting against De La Hoya that White shared in his most recent tweet is an echoing of numerous statements he’s made in recent weeks. In early August, White said he was “praying Vitor knocks this crackhead out – and viciously.”
De La Hoya, 48, does not have a fight on the books, though Triller’s Ryan Kavanagh recently indicated to MMA Fighting the promotion is interested in rebooking the Belfort fight that fell through.
UFC 266 took place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPNews/ESPN+.
Dana White accuses Oscar De La Hoya of ‘faking’ COVID-19 after boxer criticizes UFC 266 fighter pay