Dana White stands in the way of Eddie Hearn staging Katie Taylor fight at the Las Vegas Sphere
UFC president Dana White refuses to budge in his bid to stage the first combat sports event at the Sphere, urging Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn to rethink his plans.
Hearn has teased the possibility of taking the rematch between Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) and Amanda Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) to the Las Vegas music venue, with June being targeted as a potential month.
However, White has hit back, claiming that the first combat sports event to be hosted at the Sphere will be an MMA show.
At the press conference for UFC 300, he said: “I love Eddie Hearn; I consider him a friend – it ain’t happening. Sorry Eddie, love you buddy. You can go in the Sphere in October.”
The first encounter between Taylor and Serrano took place at Madison Square Garden, New York, when, in 2022, the four world lightweight titles went back to Ireland after a scintillating affair in front of a sold-out crowd.
Since her split decision victory, Taylor has become a two-time undisputed champion, moving up to 140 lbs to take on Chantelle Cameron who, after causing the upset in May last year, was eventually defeated in the rematch – resulting in another majority decision in November.
The two encounters took place in Dublin, Ireland, where the 37-year-old made her long-awaited homecoming.
Now, the Irish star eyes a return to the US, perhaps looking for one final legacy fight before she calls it quits on her glimmering career.
Serrano, meanwhile, became the undisputed featherweight champion in February last year, outpointing Erika Cruz Hernandez before defending all four belts in a rematch with Heather Hardy.
In her last fight, though, just three of the titles were on the line after WBC president Mauricio Suliman refused to sanction her fight, which was fought over 12 three-minute rounds.
Perhaps this puts another stumbling block in the way of a second Ireland-Puerto Rico clash, with Taylor seemingly preferring the 10 two-minute format for her title fights.