Shakur Stevenson Misidentified as Jalen Williams in UFC 329 Broadcast Gaffe

Shakur Stevenson was misidentified as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams during UFC 329 on 18 October 2025. UFC president Dana White called the on-air gaffe 'the worst' and vowed to stop repeating the same mistake.

Decorated boxer Shakur Stevenson appeared courtside at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on 18 October 2025. Midway through the broadcast, the graphic flashed Jalen Williams’ name instead of Stevenson’s. White admitted the error during his post-fight press conference: 'We are the absolute worst to ever do the celebrity thing.'

The mix-up stung because White had just signed Stevenson to Zuffa Boxing that same week. The 29-year-old is the biggest name Zuffa has landed for its fledgling boxing venture, and the partnership kicked off with the gaffe. Williams, a 2024-25 NBA All-Star, doesn’t resemble Stevenson, yet the graphic still aired.

For Shakur Stevenson, the moment spotlighted the UFC’s shaky handling of celebrity cameos. White stressed this isn’t a one-off: 'When we put celebrities up, we are the worst.' The error came hours before Stevenson’s first appearance under the Zuffa deal, turning a promotional win into a PR headache.

The mix-up also underscored how little some viewers know about Williams. Unlike Thunder teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams isn’t a household NBA name. That anonymity made the graphic’s failure even more glaring-Stevenson’s reputation got tangled in a mistake he didn’t make.

White promised fixes after the 18 October 2025 blunder. 'We have to do better,' he said. The UFC’s celebrity graphics have long drawn criticism, and White’s frustration signals a push for tighter production standards before future events.

For Shakur Stevenson, the focus now shifts to Zuffa Boxing. His debut under the new banner already carries extra scrutiny after the UFC gaffe. White’s vow to improve may ease concerns, but the damage to first impressions is done.

The 29-year-old returns to boxing with a fresh challenge-and a fresh spotlight. Whether the UFC cleans up its act could shape how fans view Stevenson’s next moves outside the ring.