Terence Crawford Claims UFC Misidentified Shakur Stevenson on Purpose

The former undisputed champion says the UFC intentionally mislabeled Stevenson during UFC 329 and rejects the idea that it was a production mistake.

Terence Crawford believes the UFC deliberately misidentified Shakur Stevenson during its UFC 329 broadcast. The former undisputed champion says he never accepted the explanation that the incorrect on-screen graphic was simply a production error.

“First thing I said was they did that on purpose when it happened. I’m like, but why? Because he’s signed to Zuffa. They did that on purpose,” said Crawford to Ring Champs.

“How can you get Shakur confused? We both be at the UFC gym.”

Crawford did not offer evidence to support his belief. His comments reflected his own opinion after seeing the broadcast and the attention it generated online.

Part of the reason Crawford views the situation that way is that he experienced a similar mistake himself. During UFC 306, the broadcast showed Crawford in attendance but identified him as rapper Kendrick Lamar.

That incident came up later when Crawford met Rihanna, who told him she noticed the mistake.

“She was like, ‘Oh, they got your name wrong.’ She said, ‘Yeah, I didn’t like that. They was disrespectful for that.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I ain’t tripping.’”

The hosts suggested the Shakur graphic may have been intended to generate discussion because obvious broadcast mistakes often spread quickly online. Crawford didn’t buy that explanation, maintaining Shakur had been mislabeled intentionally. The broadcast error has not been forgotten, at least by Crawford.

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