WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames signs with Zuffa Boxing

WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames has signed with Zuffa Boxing, the promotion announced on Tuesday, October 13.

Zuffa Boxing, the boxing arm associated with Dana White, confirmed the deal on its official X account, calling Adames one of the most avoided men in boxing and noting that he is The Ring Magazine's No. 1-ranked middleweight. Ring Magazine separately reported that the signing had been announced.

Champion joins Dana White's boxing roster

Adames holds the WBC middleweight title and enters Zuffa as an active world champion. The promotion did not announce the length of the contract, a debut date, or an opponent in its initial statement.

The Dominican fighter has been among the top names at 160 pounds, and his addition gives Zuffa another titled middleweight on its growing roster alongside other champions and contenders the company has signed since launching.

What was announced

In its post, Zuffa Boxing wrote that Adames "has officially signed" and highlighted his status as WBC world middleweight champion and Ring Magazine's top-ranked fighter at the weight. Ring Magazine followed with a brief announcement confirming the same news.

No further details were released at the time of the posts. There was no mention of whether Adames would vacate or defend the WBC belt under the Zuffa banner, and no first fight under the new deal was named.

Context in the middleweight division

Adames has been a free agent in recent months while remaining the WBC champion at middleweight. His move to Zuffa lands him in a promotion that has been aggressively signing talent across several divisions.

Fans and media have frequently discussed potential matchups involving Adames at 160 pounds. Whether those fights materialize under Zuffa will depend on how the promotion books him and how sanctioning-body obligations are handled.

What's next

As of the announcement, Zuffa Boxing and Adames's camp have not confirmed when he will make his promotional debut or who he will face. Further details on the contract and his first bout are expected in follow-up statements from the promotion or the fighter.