Dana White would like to work with David Benavidez and Gervonta Davis. Both names would draw attention to Zuffa Boxing. Benavidez offers a clearer path to the kind of regular, high-stakes fights White says he wants to deliver.
“I’m a big Tank fan. I love Tank,” White said on Cigar Talk. “I love Benavidez. There’s guys out there that I personally like and I’m a fan of that I would like to work with.” The interview was recorded before Ryan Garcia fought Conor Benn, but White’s interest in the two fighters is worth examining.
Zuffa already has Jai Opetaia. Benavidez wants to fight him, Opetaia wants the same, and White has said Zuffa is “very interested” in Benavidez. If Benavidez gets through his proposed December fight with Michal Cieslak, White would have a major cruiserweight bout to pursue within his own operation.
Benavidez has also been reported to have one fight remaining on his agreement with Sampson Lewkowicz and PBC. The terms are not public, so his availability after Cieslak cannot be treated as settled. It is enough to make Zuffa’s interest timely.
The appeal goes beyond one opponent. Benavidez’s pressure, combinations, and body work give Zuffa an action fighter to put before its Paramount+ audience. Opetaia might beat him; a later move to heavyweight might reveal that Benavidez is less imposing against naturally bigger men. Those are risks a promoter can build compelling fights around.
Tank gives White another obvious in-house matchup: Shakur Stevenson. His counterpunching and knockout power can turn a quiet round into a finish, and Tank–Shakur would attract attention well beyond Zuffa’s regular audience. White agreed during the interview that it is a fight fans want.
The trouble is getting a date. Tank fought Frank Martin in June 2024, drew with Lamont Roach in March 2025, and has not boxed since. A star who appears once and then disappears for another year does little to fill a streaming service’s fight calendar. Zuffa’s Paramount agreement began with a slate of 12 cards and plans to grow from there. Consistent appearances have value in that setup.
White may pursue both. Benavidez gives him an active route toward Opetaia, with real danger attached. Tank gives him a potentially enormous Shakur fight. Before paying for Tank’s name, Zuffa would need to know when he intends to use it.