UFC President Dana White Launches Boxing Series “The Fighters” Thursday on Discovery Channel

UFC president Dana White is making the jump back to boxing.

No, he’s not leaving the UFC behind, and he doesn’t have initial intentions to promote boxing – although he doesn’t rule out promoting boxing. Although White is one of the minds behind a new reality series that focuses on boxers.

The eight-part series, The Fighters, premiers Thursday, Jan. 23, at 9 p.m. ET on the Discovery Channel.

The Fighters, despite involving White and fellow The Ultimate Fighter creative force Craig Piligian, is not a carbon copy of TUF’s successful formula.

“This is not The Ultimate Fighter. Not even close to being The Ultimate Fighter,” White declared at a question and answer session about the show.

Set in South Boston, The Fighters takes place on White’s home turf and features his friend and famed boxing trainer and gym owner Peter Welch. The show has no six-figure contract or other TUF trimmings. It focuses on amateur boxers and trying to rekindle boxing in a town famed for its toughness. The focus of the show is on lives of the boxers and their struggles, and the attempt to save boxing from it’s downward spiral.

“@ncaprio: UFC President @danawhite & @Pilgrim_Studios Craig Piligian on Their Big Plans for @Discovery http://t.co/8GjsOnEGdo via @tvguide

— Dana White (@danawhite) January 23, 2014