Dana White On Why Stevenson Got UFC Release

Dana White granted Shakur Stevenson his release from Zuffa Boxing before the two-division champion ever fought for the promotion, a decision the UFC president defended at the UFC 333 postfight press conference.

White said he initiated the split and characterized the parting as amicable when asked whether Stevenson had been difficult to work with. "I think that everybody's involved. They're happy, you know, with where we're at with it," he told reporters, according to Sherdog. "I have nothing bad to say about him or his team, but I offered him the release, and they accepted."

The Zuffa Boxing CEO drew a clear distinction when pressed on why Stevenson walked away while UFC fighters routinely remain locked into contracts despite requesting releases. White pointed to the brevity of their business relationship with the Newark lightweight. "Well, we never even did one fight with the guy," White said. "We were in business with him for a couple months."

White declined to specify what drove the decision or provide details of the discussions that led to the split. Stevenson's camp has not publicly commented on the departure. Zuffa Boxing launched in February with ambitions to sign top-tier talent, but the Stevenson exit leaves questions about the promotional outfit's immediate roster plans.

Stevenson remains a free agent and is expected to field offers from competing promoters in the coming weeks.