Dana White explains why Callum Walsh sported Riyadh Season on t-shirt during recent walkout: "That was more of a thank you and a respect thing"
UFC CEO and president Dana White has addressed why Callum Walsh donned a Riyadh Season t-shirt during his walkout for his most recent fight. White suggested that it was Walsh's respectful gesture toward His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, a Saudi Arabian boxing promoter and chairman of the Kingdom's GEA (General Entertainment Authority).
White has extended considerable support to Ireland's Walsh over the years. The undefeated professional boxer last competed at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, on Sept. 20, 2024. The fight was streamed on UFC Fight Pass, and White was in attendance.
Walsh defended his WBC Continental Americas super welterweight championship with a second-round KO of Przemyslaw Runowski.
Additionally, the White-helmed UFC's most recent pay-per-view was the monumental UFC 306 (aka Riyadh Season Noche UFC) event at the Sphere in Vegas on Sept. 14, 2024. It was sponsored by Saudi Arabia's global sports venture, Riyadh Season, which became the UFC's first-ever title sponsor.
Another notable element is the 'strategic agreement' they signed with the UFC earlier this year, extending their partnership. Speculation has abounded that UFC's business association with Alalshikh and Saudi Arabia would likely keep flourishing.
Watch Walsh sporting the t-shirt during his entrance below:
During the DWCS (Dana White's Contender Series) 73 post-fight press conference on Sept. 24, 2024, a reporter indicated that Callum Walsh wore a Riyadh Season t-shirt for his entrance heading into his latest fight. White was asked whether he'd set it up for Walsh.
White seemed to suggest that Alalshikh invited Walsh to the Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois boxing match that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on Sept. 21, 2024.
The UFC head honcho implied that Walsh wouldn't have been able to attend that fight, which is why he chose to represent Riyadh Season in his walkout attire as a way of thanking Alalshikh for the invitation. White stated:
"Well, I know that Sheikh Turki had invited him to come out to the 'AJ' fight after the fight. But he had a bunch of family out there with him. But he really wanted to go. That was more of a thank you and a respect thing to Sheikh Turki."
Check out White's comments below:
Watch the complete press conference segment below (*White's comments about Walsh at 5:25):
What did Dana White say about a potential boxing collaboration with Turki Alalshikh?
Dana White has long been quite vocal about his love for boxing and even hinted at possibly venturing into boxing promotion. He'd spoken about Zuffa Boxing back in 2017, but he appeared to put that idea on the backburner in the ensuing years.
That said, White recently confirmed that he's set to try his hand at boxing promotion. During his DWCS 73 post-fight press conference, he notably hinted at announcements regarding the same at the beginning of 2025.
Furthermore, during a DWCS press conference earlier this month, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh's plans to establish an international boxing league in early 2025 were referenced. White was asked about whether he'd associate with it, to which he said:
"Anything is possible. Anything is possible. Who knows?"
Watch Dana White address the topic below: