White confirms McGregor ‘will fight again’
White confirms that McGregor will fight again, despite his retirement announcement last month.
Conor McGregor will fight again…Me and Conor communicate every day. We’ve been talking all this week. Things are good with Conor and I and we’ll get something figured out soon…Conor likes to be in a position where he holds the cards and he does what he wants to do.
White remains optimistic on the prospect of a rematch with either Mayweather or Nurmagomedov.
Yeah, if Floyd wants to fight in the octagon, we’ll do it one hundred per cent. I think that that fight is a possibility some day in the octagon…And, obviously I think everybody would like to see the fight with him (McGregor) and Khabib again.
McGregor’s hopes of Nurmagomedov rematch dashed by UFC
UFC president White expects Nurmagomedov to face Ferguson when he returns, and not a rematch with McGregor. Both Nurmagomedov and McGregor will come before the Nevada State Athletic Commission on December 10 to discover whether they will be fined and banned for their post-fight brawls.
They’ve got to go before the NSAC which is scheduled for December and we’ll see what happens. Tony Ferguson is the right fight [for Nurmagomedov], he didn’t lose the belt in a fight so it’s the right fight. We’ll see how this whole thing plays out, it all depends on the suspensions.
White: McGregor ‘upset’ about loss, doesn’t care about brawl
Following the events that closed out UFC 229, White gives a brief statement talking about how McGregor was upset at the defeat, and didn’t care about the brawl:
He didn’t care about the fight after. He was more concerned with the fight. He said ‘listen man, I’m upset. I don’t give a shit about any of that, we don’t like each other.’…You know he doesn’t like Khabib and the whole deal, but he didn’t press charges against him and the whole team. He doesn’t care about that. He cares that he lost the fight.
Nurmagomedov pleads with White to award belt
After defeating McGregor, then brawling in the crowd, and as Las Vegas metro police attempt to restore order, Nurmagomedov climbs back into the octagon and pleads with White to give him his belt: “Put my belt on me.” White refuses, fearing an even greater safety issue. He explained that angry fans would pelt him with anything they could get their hands on. Khabib continues to protest:
“I don’t care. I’m ready for this. If I have to be arrested, then I have to be arrested. But I want my belt put on me.
White: McGregor better at mental warfare than Muhammad Ali
The UFC 229 press conference for McGregor vs Nurmagomedov was McGregor’s first appearance in front of the press for some time. White says he is very impressed by McGregor’s verbal sparring skills:
Conor McGregor is the master of mental warfare. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I think he’s better than anybody, even Muhammad Ali. You don’t ever want to say anybody’s better than Ali, but I think when it comes to mental war game in this sport, or any other sport, Conor McGregor is the best ever.
Signs new 6-fight deal with the UFC
White announces that McGregor has signed a new six-fight deal with the UFC. The deal will also position McGregor’s new liquor brand, Proper Whiskey, as a sponsor in every UFC event in which the latter competes. Terms were not disclosed, but White says the deal could make McGregor the most money in the sport, especially given his pay-per-view appeal. The six fights include the matchup with Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 on Oct. 6. When asked if the logo of his product will have a presence in the Octagon, McGregor responded:
You bet your bollocks it is. On the canvas. On the canvas. Like [Nurmagomedov’s] blood will be on the canvas.
White believes McGregor vs Nurmagomedov fight will break pay-per-view record
White believes the upcoming McGregor vs Nurmagomedov fight could break the two million pay-per-view barrier. The UFC do not release pay-per-view figures, but the record is believed to be 1.6million for McGregor’s rematch with Nate Diaz in 2016.
I am confident it will do two million on pay-per-view. Believe me when I tell you, this will be massive.
McGregor, Nurmagomedov to fight Oct 6
White announces McGregor and Nurmagomedov will fight in UFC 229, in Las Vegas on October 6.
I wouldn’t say this is a crossroads fight. This is a very important fight for both fighters. For Khabib, who is undefeated and who is looked at as one of the best fighters in the world, beating Conor is massive for him. And obviously for Conor, coming back from a two-year layoff, in my opinion — and it’s crazy to say this because of how popular he is around the world — but he’s one of the most underrated fighters in the UFC. Everybody thinks because he speaks so well and gets so crazy and everything, it makes him sort of less of a fighter. It’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen…When you talk about pound-for-pound, best in the world? This is a guy who is actually living proof for pound-for-pound. He [McGregor] jumps from weight class to weight class and fights people in different weight classes.
White: ‘We’re not talking about a McGregor fight right now’
At a post-UFC 226 press conference at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, White says any talk of McGregor’s return to The Octagon must wait until the fighter clears his legal issues.
I’m not even thinking about Conor until – I’m serious. I know they’re saying there are talks, but we’re not talking about a fight right now. Conor has to get through July. Whatever’s going to happen to him in July, we’ll figure that out. I don’t know what’s going to happen…Is he going to get fined? Is he going to be on probation? Is he going to get this, that? When that’s over with, then we’ll start talking about him fighting.
White to meet McGregor in Las Vegas
After he was not able to meet with McGregor in Liverpool, White says the meeting has been rescheduled to Las Vegas, and that he is planning for the Irishman to fight Nurmagomedov. He also says he has not seen McGregor since the incident in Brooklyn and that he is not involved in his legal defence in any way.
Conor and I are going to meet in Las Vegas,. I’m pretty confident [a lightweight title fight] is a fight that Conor wants, and I’m pretty confident that is a fight Khabib wants. So yeah, I could see that happening.
White, McGregor to meet in Liverpool
White says he and McGregor will meet in Liverpool in the coming weekend to discuss the fighter’s future.
We’re going to sit down and talk about his future and what’s next…Obviously, he has to deal with [his legal situation] in June. I’m flying to Liverpool this weekend for a fight there, and he and I are going to meet in Liverpool.
White: No punishment for McGregor until after NYC court ruling
White says the UFC will not consider punishment for McGregor’s bus attack until after McGregor appears in court again on June 14, and the New York City judge issues a ruling.
We’ll see what happens. He’s gotta be punished by the law first…Let’s see what happens in New York.
White: McGregor arrest warrant issued
Whits says there is an arrest warrant out for McGregor’s arrest:
There is a warrant out for Conor McGregor’s arrest. They’re looking for him right now. His plane cannot take off. He cannot leave the state of New York with this warrant. He’ll be grounded and I’m assuming eventually if they don’t catch him, he’ll turn himself in. You can imagine he’s gonna be sued beyond belief, and this was a real bad career move for him.
Listen, you don’t like Khabib and you don’t like what happened (with Lobov) or whatever? Then fight Khabib. You can come in here and you can do it legally. This fight’s happening Saturday. We could have talked and made the Khabib fight right after. You could do whatever you wanted to Khabib within the limits of the rules of fighting. But you want to grab 30 friends and come down here and do what you did today? It’s disgusting, and I don’t think anybody is going to be huge Conor McGregor fans after this.
#BREAKING: Arrest warrant issued for Conor McGregorpic.twitter.com/OxgzNabCMa
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) April 5, 2018
McGregor to lose UFC lightweight belt to Ferguson-Nurmagomedov winner on April 7
UFC president White confirms that current lightweight champion Conor McGregor will lose his title to the winner of Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223 on April 7 in Brooklyn, New York.
That’s exactly right: As soon as one punch is thrown, it’s on for the full title and it’s only fair. They’ve both worked their way up to No. 1 and No. 2. They deserve a shot.
White says the lightweight division will move on in McGregor’s absence, in the same way McGregor’s featherweight title was stripped when he failed to defend it in nearly a year after knocking Jose Aldo out in 13 seconds.
This is good news for the fans. I always hear about, ‘What will you do if this guy leaves …’ This is a sport first. People leave, they’ve made money and moved on. It happens.
White: McGregor will face Ferguson or Nurmagomedov, not Diaz
White says McGreogr will not fight Diaz for his comeback fight, and that he will likely fight Ferguson or Nurmagomedov.
I think people would rather see Conor come back and either fight Tony [Ferguson] or Khabib [Nurmagomedov]. Whoever wins — and the Nate Diaz fight isn’t going anywhere. We can do that thing any time.
White confident McGregor will return to UFC in 2018
White says he is confident that a lot of his top box office stars, including McGregor, will gear up for long-awaited returns to the Octagon this coming year, as well as Jones, Lesnar, St-Pierre and the Diaz brothers.
I’m going to take the odds and say ‘yes’, that Conor will fight more than twice inside the Octagon, at odds of +175 that he will.
UFC may strip McGregor’s lightweight title
White warns McGregor he faces being stripped of his UFC lightweight title if he remains out of the octagon until September.
Conor has said he’s thinking about coming back in September. If he comes back in September that’s almost two years, that can’t happen, it’s not fair to everybody else…I love Conor, I respect Conor, I love everything he’s done for this company, but the belt would have to move on.
White says McGregor’s continued absence is unfair to his division rivals and added talks are under way for interim champion Tony Ferguson to take on undefeated Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov in a bout for the lightweight title.
You do Khabib versus Tony. We’re working on that fight now. If and when Conor comes back, he will get the first crack at the title.
"Conor has said he's thinking about coming back in September. If he comes back in September, that's almost two years…that can't happen." — @danawhite
Dana speaks on #UFCSTL, Khabib, Tony and of course…Conor McGregor possibly being stripped. https://t.co/fTlT8sD2I3
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) January 15, 2018
White: McGregor ‘may never fight in the Octagon again’
At the UFC’s Las Vegas headquarters, White says McGregor may not fight again:
Conor might never fight again. The guy’s got $100 million. I’ve got guys that made less than that and were lawyers and went to school their whole life and quit working. Try to get up and get punched in the face every day when you’ve got $100 million in the bank. Money changes everything with a lot of people.
As for a potential fight with Tony Ferguson:
Listen, we ain’t taking any direction from Ferguson. With [McGregor], it’s not about ‘defend or vacate’. We’re working on a new deal right now. We’ve got to work out this new deal.
McGregor ‘absolutely devastated’ after Las Vegas shooting
McGregor says he is ‘absolutely devastated’ on hearing of Sunday’s mass shooting in Las Vegas, the city where he trained and fought Mayweather. Dana White says that the UFC organisation will donate $1 million to the families of the victims of the attack. McGregor posts on Instagram:
Absolutely devastated upon hearing the news in Las Vegas…a city so close to my heart.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZxKtfigdqn/
Dana White gives update on McGregor-Diaz III
Talk of a series decider between McGregor and Diaz that would headline UFC 219, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 30, is dismissed by White. White categorically denies the rumours of McGregor vs Diaz III being set by tweeting:
Not true AT ALL.
Not true AT ALL
— danawhite (@danawhite) September 24, 2017