White Defends Booking Assistant For DWCS Showcase

Dana White said his longtime assistant will be treated like any other prospect when he competes on Contender Series this fall.

Sal Everett, who has worked in various production roles for the UFC including as White's runner, is set to fight middleweight Ozzy Martin on October 6 at the final DWCS card of the season, BJPenn.com first reported. The matchup pits two undefeated fighters — both 4-0 — with Everett having stopped all four opponents in the opening round, including a four-second knockout at a Tuff 'N Uff show in January.

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White Compares Assistant's Path To Zuffa Boxer

Speaking to media at the UFC Apex, White acknowledged the unusual dynamic but dismissed any suggestion of favoritism. "Yeah, I'm excited," White said, per MMA Junkie. "He is a great kid, and everybody in this company loves him. I feel bad for whoever he's fighting. He's gonna feel like he's coming into enemy territory, when that is not the case."

White drew a parallel to Callum Walsh, the Irish welterweight signed to Zuffa Boxing. "It's like Callum Walsh. I was working with Callum early on in his career, and I feel like anybody that comes into Zuffa Boxing feels like they're the odd man out, which is not the case," White said. "You come in here and, if Sal's good enough, then he's gonna make it, and he's gonna get a contract. If he's not, then he's gotta figure out what he's gonna do next."

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Martin enters with his own 4-0 record. The winner could secure a UFC contract pending White's assessment on fight night.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Dana White defends booking UFC assistant for Contender Series showcase