​UFC President Dana White couldn’t hide his frustration after the UFC 329 broadcast failed to recognize boxing star Shakur Stevenson, sparking a notable moment of confusion and anger. UFC events routinely attract elite athletes from various disciplines, and Conor McGregor’s return — his first fight since 2021 — drew a crowd filled with high-profile names. Among the attendees was four-weight world champion Stevenson, but the broadcast seemingly didn’t catch him on camera, which provoked White’s ire.
During the event, Stevenson appeared to be shadowboxing for the cameras, yet the on-screen namecard labeled him as Jalen Williams, a former NBA champion who played for the Oklahoma City Thunder. White, who recently signed Stevenson to Zuffa Boxing, lashed out at the glaring mix-up: “I just paid Shakur Stevenson a s—load of money, and for some reason we can’t figure this celebrity s— out. They put him up as a f—— OKC NBA player. Are you f—– kidding me? We are the absolute worst to ever do the celebrity thing.” The mix-up suggested either a sensational miscaption by the production team or a simple case of mistaken identity on the day.
There was a reasonable explanation: some context suggests that Chet Holmgren of the Thunder was in attendance, and the production crew may have prepared Williams’ titlecard in case he appeared on screen, leading to the erroneous labeling of Stevenson. However, it also raises the possibility that the team genuinely believed Stevenson was Williams, a blunder of significant magnitude for the world’s premier combat sports organization. In a sport where attention to detail matters, misidentifying a world champion like Stevenson crosses a line from minor error into a high-profile misstep.
Despite the miscue, the event delivered compelling action in the ring. Brandon Royval secured a third-round submission victory over Lone’er Kavanagh, and Paddy Pimblett defeated Benoit Saint-Denis via a 52-second submission in the co-main event, providing fans with high-quality competition even as the cameras raced to capture other spectacles. McGregor’s long-awaited return was short-lived, however, when his first kick attempt against Max Holloway ended in a knee injury that forced a doctor’s stoppage before the matchup reached the full conclusion.
Stevenson, likely more amused than rattled by the confusion, probably did not anticipate being mistaken for an NBA forward amid a crowd of combat sports fans. The incident underscored a broader truth about live broadcasts: even at flagship events, production errors can slip through the cracks, and in a sport where branding and recognition matter, a world champion’s identity should be a lock. The episode served as a reminder that for White and UFC events to maintain their polished image, attention to crediting the right athletes on screen is not just a courtesy but a standard expectation.