UFC 306 broadcast misidentifies boxer Terence Crawford as Kendrick Lamar in embarrassing gaffe

Ian Casselberry
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 14: Terence
Boxer Terence "Bud" Crawford was inadvertently part of an embarrassing moment during the UFC 306 broadcast when he was misidentified as rapper Kendrick Lamar. (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images) (Cassy Athena via Getty Images)

Grammy Award winning rapper Kendrick Lamar has been a prominent figure in sports news recently with the announcement that he will be the halftime performer at Super Bowl LIX in February.

However, Lamar was a topic on Saturday night for an inadvertent reason. During the UFC 306 broadcast, the camera showed several notable figures in attendance at Sphere in Las Vegas including Disney exec Bob Iger, reality TV star Steve-O, Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray and WWE performer Rey Mysterio Jr.

The broadcast also identified a man sitting cageside during the women's flyweight title contest between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko as Lamar. Big, if true, as they say on social media! However, the person shown on camera was boxer Terence "Bud" Crawford, not the superstar musician.

The mishap was embarrassing for a variety of reasons, perhaps the most notable being that Crawford and Lamar don't look alike. Viewers watching the "Noche" event on pay-per-view ridiculed the broadcast on social media for the mistake.

Crawford himself had fun with the gaffe later, commenting "Damn Kendrick Lamar" with laughing emojis on Instagram below a screenshot of the broadcast graphic. Just to underline the point, Crawford played Lamar's "Euphoria" with the post.

UFC CEO Dana White even commented on the broadcast's mistake after the event when he was asked if he expected to receive a text from Lamar or Crawford regarding the blooper.

"I don't know who the hell did that," White said afterward, laughing. "That was pretty bad. He did kind of look like Kendrick Lamar, though. Let’s not f*** around. He kind of did look like Kendrick Lamar. ...So when I say that we had a flawless production tonight, I take that back."

Besides being indirectly involved in an embarrassing mistake (one that might even have racial connotations for some), Terence Crawford deserves more than to be the punchline of a broadcast gaffe.

The 36-year-old is currently the WBA and WBO light middleweight champion after defeating Israil Madrimov in August. Next, Crawford is expected to fight Sebastian Fundora per the WBO's demand for its light middleweight title.

Crawford has also publicly feuded with controversial boxer Ryan Garcia, who called him "an overhyped bum" in an interview and issued a challenge. However, Garcia is currently serving a suspension for a positive PED test and won't be able to fight until April 2025.

Additionally, Crawford has been linked to Canelo Alvarez for a bout. That was likely a major reason why Crawford attended Alvarez's victory over Edgar Berlanga on Saturday in Las Vegas. He also sat next to Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh at UFC 306, further adding to speculation that arrangements are being made for a future Crawford-Alvarez match.

"I guaranteed Crawford a big fight; I want Canelo for Crawford and Crawford wants Canelo," Alalshikh told ESPN in August. "But if Canelo is crazy [with his financial demands] I will still guarantee Crawford any fight he wants."

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