In a move that could reshape the landscape of professional boxing, UFC President Dana White is reportedly on the verge of securing his biggest signing yet for Zuffa Boxing. According to Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, junior welterweight champion and pound-for-pound contender Shakur Stevenson is "finalizing" a deal with the promotion—and if it goes through, it will mark White's first prime-age, elite-level acquisition.

Stevenson, who holds the WBO and Ring Magazine titles at 140 pounds, last stepped into the ring in January 2026, where he delivered a masterclass against Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden, winning 119-109. That performance only solidified his status as one of the sport's brightest stars. Now, with Zuffa Boxing reportedly ready to back up the brinks truck, Stevenson appears poised to join a growing stable that already includes Conor Benn, Jai Opetaia, and Richardson Hitchins.

Mannix reports that Stevenson is "working towards finalizing" the deal, though nothing is official just yet. Multiple sources indicate that Zuffa's guaranteed money proved too substantial for the 28-year-old to ignore—even after he dismissed a rumored $60 million, three-fight offer back in March on the Night Cap podcast. The shift in tone is significant, and it suggests that White and his team, backed by Saudi Arabian funding and run by Nick Khan, are serious about building a powerhouse.

One of the most intriguing angles here is the potential matchup at 147 pounds between Stevenson and Conor Benn, who signed a $15 million one-fight deal with Zuffa earlier this year. If both fighters are under the same banner, that fight becomes not just possible, but likely—and it would be a massive draw for the promotion's growing audience.

Interestingly, the report also notes that Zuffa is willing to work with boxing's traditional sanctioning bodies for its top stars, even as the promotion publicly positions itself against the WBO, IBF, WBA, and WBC structure. That carve-out matters for Stevenson, whose WBO and Ring Magazine titles are currently the most marketable assets attached to his name. For a fighter of his caliber, keeping those belts in play could be the difference between a good deal and a generational one.

If finalized, Stevenson would become Zuffa Boxing's first true pound-for-pound, prime-age signing. White has spent 2025 and early 2026 stocking the roster with a mix of over 90 fighters, but most signings have been midlevel talent or veterans. Landing Stevenson changes the narrative entirely. It signals that Zuffa is ready to play with the big boys—and that the sport of boxing may be on the verge of a seismic shift.