Berlanga, who recently aligned himself with Dana White’s new promotional venture, said the difference was obvious as soon as he saw behind the scenes how the company operated. According to him, boxing has talent and history, but too often runs without a clear system.
“I feel like that’s what boxing lacks, is the structure behind everything,” Berlanga told the Danza Project.
That line will sound familiar to anyone who has watched boxing’s fragmented model for years. Multiple promoters, competing networks, stalled negotiations and belt politics often delayed fights that fans wanted quickly. The UFC, on the other hand, sells consistency as much as star power.
Berlanga said even small details stood out when he attended a UFC event, pointing to timing, organization and sponsor presence.
“It’s just the structure is just incredible,” Berlanga said of Zuffa. “That’s why they have big sponsorships.”
The super middleweight contender also believes White understands something that boxing has often mishandled: how to build personalities into commercial attractions rather than letting fighters do it alone.
“With Dana, he’s more about building a brand and building fighters,” Berlanga said.
This may explain why Zuffa targeted Berlanga early on. Whatever critics think of his recent form, he remains a household name with a ready-made New York and Puerto Rican audience, and he knows how to generate attention outside the ring.
The sanctioning bodies can rank contenders, but promoters still decide who is marketed hard enough to become stars.
Whether Zuffa can solve boxing’s deeper problems is another question. One signing doesn’t change a sport. But Berlanga’s comments reflect why some fighters are listening. They see a business model that sells events, builds names and moves with less lag than boxing usually allows.
