UFC Noche (306) is set to be a historic event, but not without some serious challenges. Named in honor of Mexican Independence Day, the fight night is designed to cater specifically to the Mexican audience, and UFC has pulled out all the stops to make it unforgettable. This isn’t just another event—it’s the first-ever UFC fight card held at the iconic ‘Sphere’ in Las Vegas, promising a groundbreaking audio-visual experience that fans have never seen before. In terms of spectacle, it’s a game-changer.
But this ambitious event has come at a steep price. Dana White and the UFC have reportedly poured a staggering $20 million into UFC 306, making it one of the most expensive investments for a single fight card. However, their grand plans have been overshadowed by a huge hiccup—Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Mexico’s biggest combat sports star, is fighting on the same night in the same city. This clash of titans has undoubtedly drawn attention away from UFC Noche, forcing the UFC to share the spotlight with one of the biggest names in boxing.
To make matters worse, Tom Brown, the co-promoter of the Canelo fight, hasn’t hesitated to twist the knife, rubbing salt into the UFC’s wounds. With so much on the line, UFC 306’s success is now in question, and the competition from Canelo’s fight may just have made Dana White second-guess that massive investment.
In a battle for viewership on Mexican Independence Day, it’s anyone’s guess which event will reign supreme.
Canelo Alvarez fight co-promoter ridicules Dana White’s production choices for UFC 306
Speaking at the pre-fight press conference of the Canelo-Berlanga card, TGB Promotions President Tom Brown began by throwing shade at Dana Whtie and co. over their unique plans for the UFC 306 card. The UFC, after all, has announced that it plans to have ninety-minute clips on Mexico’s contribution to combat sports in between the bouts, which will take place in different ‘worlds.’
And Brown thinks the UFC is doing this because it’s a fun thing to honor Mexico and because they need to do it. Why? Quite simply because the Noche card doesn’t have anyone the caliber and superstardom of ‘Canelo’ on the card. And the UFC is trying to make up for the purported lack of talent on Canelo’s level with what Brown implied were ‘gimmicks.’
Its a great card top to bottom. Ot truly is what big time boxing’s all about. We dont need movies and acts playing in between our fights. Having a Mexican superstar, a pound for pound great, and boxing’s biggest star today, Canelo Alvarez headlining on Mexican Independence Day weekend. It just doesn’t get any bigger than that,” he said.
At first glance, Brown’s accusations may ring true since the UFC has never done anything like this for an event. However, it is important to remember that ‘The Sphere’, with its huge wraparound screens will be the most distinctive live event experience for a live audience. But it is almost impossible to provide the same (or even similar) experience to the people watching at home. And it is to make the card special for them and give them a unique viewing experience (and appease the Mexican fans), that the UFC has decided to incorporate the unique production choices. While Brown may be doing his job as a promoter by talking down the competition, the UFC’s actions and the ticket sales for UFC 306 indeed prove yet again that ‘Canelo’ is the king of Mexican fighters.
UFC to honor ‘Canelo’ at Noche card
As any fight fan knows, Mexican boxing boasts a century-long legacy, and the country has produced some of the sport’s greatest champions—second only to the United States. Leading the charge for Mexican boxing today is none other than Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, arguably the biggest name in the sport worldwide, not just in Mexico.
So when the UFC decided to honor Mexican combat sports with their UFC Noche event, it was almost impossible to ignore Canelo’s towering presence, even though he’ll be competing against them on the same night. UFC Noche, packed with Mexican fighters, aims to celebrate the country’s rich combat sports heritage, but even with the UFC’s best efforts, no one on their card comes close to rivaling Alvarez’s star power. After all, MMA is only three decades old—Canelo has been a global icon for longer than some of the fighters on the UFC roster have been alive.
The sheer influence of Alvarez is evident in UFC 306’s lagging ticket sales. Prices have dropped significantly, in some cases up to fourfold, over the last week. While some point to the original steep pricing for the Sphere’s debut event, it’s hard to ignore the timing of Canelo’s fight in the same city on the same night. Would UFC 306’s ticket sales have been stronger if it weren’t competing against a living legend? That’s up for debate, but one thing is clear—Canelo’s shadow looms large over UFC Noche.
