Should the UFC retire the Apex arena for good? This question has sparked debate among many, including fans. However, TKO President and Dana White’s boss Mark Shapiro recently made a rather controversial statement on the matter. What did he say? Stay tuned as we bring you another episode of MMA Roundup, where we break down the latest happenings into bite-sized pieces.
From the Dana White news, we will move forward to a piece of information about a New Jersey wrestler who has been charged with a crime and finally, we will end our montage with Dillon Danis and KSI. So, without any further ado, let us get started.
Dana White’s boss makes a controversial statement on UFC fans
14 of the 20 UFC events that are set to take place this year will take place outside of the Apex in front of the packed arenas. The MMA community believes that the Apex events are drastically different from the Arena events as they lack charm, but TKO Group Holdings, Inc. President and Dana White‘s boss, Mark Shapiro, would beg to differ. While having a conversation at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, Shapiro claimed there is no significant difference between the UFC’s quieter Apex ‘Fight Night’ events and large-scale stadium shows.
Credits: Imago
“When it comes to UFC, our margin could be higher if we decided to do less international events,” said Shapiro. He further added, “Maybe even less domestic touring events and do them in the Apex arena in Las Vegas, where we own the arena, and when you are watching on TV, you can’t tell if you are in a stadium or in an arena or if you are at the small but mighty Apex that we have in Las Vegas.”
Quite a controversial statement from the TKO president, considering the fact that many fighters within the UFC come from different countries. He further highlighted, “When you compare UFC to MLB, which has been around a 100 years when you compare it with NFL, which has been around for over 100 years, we have a long way to go here.” The TKO president has his own opinion on the fate of the UFC, but will Dana White agree with him? Well, time will tell, but for now, let us move forward to New Jersey.
New Jersey HS wrestler charged with assault after brawl in stands
Three-time New Jersey state wrestling champion and a senior at St. John Vianney High School, Anthony Knox Jr is facing a simple assault charge by the lower courts. According to the reports, Knox Jr caused bodily injuries during a brawl at Collingswood High School on February 22.
There is video proof that shows Knox leaving the bench and entering the bleachers after his father, Anthony Knox Sr., engaged in a confrontation with fans from the opposing team. “The defendant did enter the opposing team’s designated section of the gymnasium bleachers during the District 25 wrestling tournament, where he proceeded to punch [redacted] about the face and head repeatedly, which result in bruising and pain to the right temple area,” the complaint reads.
Knox Jr. was initially disqualified from last weekend’s regional championships but was later reinstated after New Jersey Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Bartels issued a temporary restraining order against his ban. Well, as of now, the wrestler will have to control his anger but let us move on to Dillon Danis and KSI.
Ksi slaps Dillon Danis at the Misfits Boxing press conference
Dillon Danis has again been embroiled in storied rivalries. This time KSI has come forward to give a pancake treat to the GFL fighter. In a move that shocked no one, KSI playfully smacked Dillon Danis with a pancake during their first faceoff in London on Thursday. KSI slapped Dillon Danis with a pancake on Shrove Tuesday, commonly known as Pancake Day in the U.K.
The slap came after a heated confrontation between the YouTuber-turned-boxer and Danis. Both individuals will be fighting on March 29th in Manchester in their upcoming Misfits Boxing showdown. Olivia Buzaglo and Dan Hardy were caught off guard as the two fighters were allowed to confront each other closely. Initially, their confrontation was peaceful until KSI slapped Danis.
After the slap, security intervened to pull them apart. Well, will Danis give an answer to this slap on March 29th? Time will tell. What are your thoughts on their boxing match?
The post MMA News Roundup- Dana White’s Boss Mark Shapiro Drops Controversial Verdict on UFC Apex; New Jersey Wrestler Charged With Assault; KSI Slaps Dillon Danis appeared first on EssentiallySports.
