Jalen Williams, the OKC Thunder player, was mistakenly identified as boxing champion Shakur Stevenson during UFC 329's press conference. The UFC production team's error sparked a furious reaction from Dana White, who slammed the team for their mistake.
What happened?
On Saturday, the camera panned to Stevenson, but the banner appearing on the broadcast identified him as 2025 NBA champion Jalen Williams. The commentators quickly covered up for the production team's mistake by introducing Stevenson and calling out the error during the broadcast.
Why it matters for Jalen Williams
Williams, a one-time All-Star and crucial piece in the OKC Thunder's 2025 championship run, was amused by the mistake. He shared two Instagram stories addressing the incident, poking fun at the production team's error.
What comes next?
Williams' lighthearted reaction to the mistake has drawn attention to the UFC production team's blunder. The incident has sparked a conversation about the importance of accuracy in sports broadcasting.
Jalen Williams shared a picture of Shakur Stevenson and reacted to the production team's misidentification of the boxing champion. "ehhh close enough," he wrote.
In his next story, the Thunder player shared a reel featuring White's criticism of the production team. "As an apology, I will accept lifetime ring side seats," he wrote.
Stevenson, on the other hand, has remained silent on the entire matter. He shared a reel featuring a brief video of him at the UFC event, where he shouted out boxing, the MMA organization, and gave his prediction for the fight.
Dana White was furious with the mishap, venting his frustrations in a press conference. "I just paid Shakur Stevenson a s* oad of money, and for some reason, we can't figure this celebrity s* out," he said. "They put him up as a f---ing OKC NBA player. Are you f---ing kidding me? It's absolutely crazy. We are the absolute worst to ever do the celebrity thing. When we put celebrities up, we are the worst."
Williams and Stevenson are both esteemed athletes in their respective sports. The boxer has held a championship in four different weight classes and has won three gold and one silver medal while representing the USA on the international stage.
The OKC Thunder player was an All-NBA Third Team and All-NBA Defensive Second Team member during the 2025 season. His reaction to the mistake has drawn attention to the importance of accuracy in sports broadcasting.
The incident has sparked a conversation about the UFC production team's blunder and the importance of getting it right in sports broadcasting. As for Williams, he's taking the mistake in stride, poking fun at the error and showing his sense of humor.