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Christopher Polk / Contributor via Getty Images and Jeff Bottari / Contributor via Getty Images
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Terence Crawford, Kendrick Lamar
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Terence Crawford is celebrated as one of the finest boxers globally, making it all the more shocking that ESPN, the preeminent name in sports broadcasting, would confuse him with another individual during their coverage of UFC 306.
On the evening of Saturday, September 14, they erroneously identified him as Kendrick Lamar while the broadcast showcased an array of celebrity attendees. In a twist, Lamar had previously mentioned the esteemed boxer in his original diss track directed at Drake. In his song “euphoria,” he rhymed, “I don’t like you stirrin’ drama with Pharrell, for him, I carry the beef/ Yeah, forget all that pushing P, show me you can push a T/ You would be wiser to think about spinning back on him, if you consider pushing me/ He’s Terrence Thornton, I’m Terence Crawford, yeah, I’m those who are dealing feet.”
Viewers expressed a range of responses after the sports giant muddled the identities of one of boxing’s greats with one of rap’s luminaries. This blunder occurred just as Lamar was confirmed as the headline performer for Super Bowl LIX, set to take place in New Orleans in February 2025.
Interestingly enough, ESPN has a notable bond with Lil Wayne, who many speculate was overlooked by JAY-Z’s Roc Nation and Apple Music for the headline act in his own city. The rapper’s enthusiasm for sports is well-documented, and he even sports ink featuring the logo of the Disney-connected network.
This public error prompted UFC president Dana White to comment on the incident. During a press conference, he remarked, “That was pretty bad… He did somewhat resemble Kendrick Lamar, I won’t lie… So, when I claimed we had a flawless production tonight, I retract that.”
The undefeated welterweight champion found humor in the situation on his Instagram Story, tagging the Pulitzer Prize-winning artist with a series of laughing emojis following the mix-up. A fan echoed the sentiment on social media, stating, “Mixing up Bud Crawford and Kendrick Lamar might be the wildest mix-up at a sporting event I’ve seen in years.”
Another user chimed in, “NO WAY THEY MISTOOK BUD CRAWFORD FOR KENDRICK LAMAR AT UFC 306 LMFAOOOOOO.” Although the exact reasons for the confusion remain unclear, fans are enjoying the playful discussions surrounding the name swap on social media.
The “Swimming Pools” artist recently shared a track on Instagram, seemingly addressing the current landscape of Hip Hop. While some listeners tried to connect certain lines to Drake, there were no explicit references directed at him or any other artist.
Take a moment to listen to the song below!