Garbrandt, Dillashaw fight called off
White says that the bantamweight title fight between Garbrandt and Dillashaw has been officially called off, due to a Garbrandt back injury. Dillashaw will be rebooked to a flyweight title fight against 10-time defending champion Demetrious Johnson in August. However, Johnson, has said that he’s not interested in such a fight. A newly announced interim middleweight title fight featuring Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker will serve as the UFC 213 co-main event. The card will be headlined by female bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, who is defending her title against Valentina Shevchenko. White:
After [Cody’s] last round of treatment in Germany, they told him he’d need four weeks to rest. That would have put him two weeks out from the fight. With Cody out, we’re going to make T.J. versus Mighty Mouse [Johnson]. That’s the plan.
White: McGregor sent angry text message after Ferguson refused to fight
White says that after Ferguson refused a catchweight fight against No.6 ranked lightweight Michael Johnson because it was not for a title and for a lower purse, he received a text from McGregor.
You know this shit that went on with Tony Ferguson and Khabib, right? Conor text me and said, ‘I can’t believe you’re going to f-cking pay that bum Tony Ferguson one dollar. You shouldn’t pay that guy one f-cking dime.’ He goes, ‘He was there, made weight and you lined up a fight for him – after Khabib fell out – you lined up a fight with Michael Johnson and he turned it down. F-cking bum. You shouldn’t pay him a dime’.
White: Mayweather fight could be McGregor’s last
During an interview with Snoop Dogg, White says that McGregor may not come back to MMA after fighting Mayweather.
Conor could make $75 million (£57.5 million) [but] how do you come back [to UFC] and fight [for] $10 million (£7.6 million)? You have to be hungry and you may not be hungry with $75 million in the bank, but he is hungry for Mayweather and hungry to prove people wrong.
White: ‘Conor is bigger than Pacquiao’
White says that McGregor will make a lot of money from the Mayweather fight.
He’s gonna make a couple of bucks. He’s gonna do alright. If this fight even happens, Conor’s gonna make a lot of money. Who doesn’t think that Conor is a global star? I think Conor is bigger than Pacquiao…It’s going to be a typical boxing match where it’s all about the main event…This won’t be a UFC event, it’ll be a boxing event…Conor’s ready to fight…Win, lose or draw the Mayweather fight, he will fight again before the end of the year.
Mayweather: No word from Dana White yet
Mayweather says that he has received no word from Dan White about a McGregor fight, and that he is waiting to talk.
It’s only one fight I think that makes business sense. I came out of retirement because I’m a businessman. I want to give the world what they want to see…McGregor’s a fighter, I’m a fighter, and that’s what the people want to see…I think we can break me and Pacquiao’s number…I’m not here to throw anyone under the bus. I’m a true professional. I can’t say they are waiting on us, and we’re not waiting on them. As soon as his side communicate with my side then the fight will happen…Once my team come to me and say Floyd it’s a go, it’s a go.
White: McGregor and I have ‘agreed on a deal’ for Mayweather bout
The UFC President says he has agreed in principle with McGregor on all the details about the Mayweather fight. White says they just need to put pen to paper, and expect it to be done on Sunday 14 May.
[Conor and I] are not meeting. We’re right there to get this deal done. I would like to get it done this Sunday, and start negotiating with team Mayweather. I think we’re there. Conor and I have agreed on a deal. Then you get a bunch of lawyers involved, and it [could get] stupid. As soon as this is done, we go to work. It will be me and [Al] Haymon, in Vegas or LA…If that deal can get done, then we’ll get it done. If we can’t, I’ll need to move on. It’s either going to happen this year, or it’s never going to happen at all. This isn’t something that I’m going to spend a bunch of time on, or I’m going to dedicate the next three months of my life to. Conor wants to fight twice this year. He feels the same way. He wants one of those fights to be Floyd, if possible.
White: If Garbrandt is out, Dillashaw wants to fight Demetrious Johnson
With Dillashaw believing that Garbrandt has pulled out of his UFC 213 bout, White confirms that he is looking to fight Johnson at 215 pounds.
TJ Dillashaw called me this morning. And said ‘if Cody can’t fight, what I would love to do is stop Demetrious Johnson from breaking the record’. So that’s fun. Right? And there’s something Anderson Silva might appreciate.
— TJ Dillashaw (@TJDillashaw) May 13, 2017
White sets Sunday deadline for McGregor negotiations
White says he is setting Sunday 14th May as the deadline to get McGregor’s part of the deal for the Mayweather fight, or he will walk away.
I plan on having this thing locked up by this Sunday and then moving on to Team Mayweather and starting a negotiation with them. If we really do get it done in that time frame, then this thing could possibly happen. But again, I still need to go negotiate with [Floyd Mayweather’s team]. There’s no guarantee that we’re going to come to a deal…I just can’t keep messing with this thing. I need to run my business and I have to focus on all the other things that are going on around here.
White: Mayweather-McGregor negotiations ‘a nightmare’
While making an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, White confirms he had September 16th in mind for McGregor and Mayweather. However, he wasn’t able to get the deal done in time.
The reason they got my date is because I couldn’t get my deal done on time, so they got the date. Listen, life moves on, man. We don’t wait for anybody. If the fights are going to keep rolling – you know, I didn’t get the deal done fast enough so I lose the date. That’s how it works.
He also says he may walk away from the deal.
I’m not hinting that it’s getting close at all. I knew that this thing was going to be a nightmare to get done, if it can even be done. We’ll find out. Obviously, both guys want to fight each other, but what’s the deal? Can the deal be done? That’s the question. It’s not just Mayweather. It’s both sides of this thing are going to be hard to get done. And absolutely, there’s going to be a point where I’m done. This isn’t what I do, this isn’t my business and I’m definitely going to walk away.
White: McGregor wants to fight twice this year
White says that, despite uncertainties about the Mayweather fight date, McGregor wants to fight twice in 2017.
Conor wants to fight. Conor wants to fight Floyd, Conor wants to fight twice this year, so we’ll just have to see how this thing plays out…Obviously I was expecting him to fight this summer. That is not the case so we’ll see what happens. I know he recently came out and said he’d like to fight in November. I like Georges St-Pierre, he’s a great guy… we’ll see. We’ll see what happens.
White: ‘We just lost Mayweather vs McGregor date to Canelo vs Golovkin’
White says the proposed date for the Mayweather-McGregor fight has been lost to Canelo vs Golovkin. The fight will take place on September 16.
We just lost our date to Canelo and Triple G.
White: I’m ‘trying my hardest’ to get deal with Mayweather
White says he is working on the Mayweather-McGregor fight.
Still working on it. We are not close…To get a deal like this done, this doesn’t happen in a couple months. It’s gonna be a tough deal to get done, if it gets done at all…I guaranteed that I would try my hardest.
White also responds to Mayweather’s comment that McGregor could beat him.
I’ve never heard Floyd talk like that! Anybody knows a fight is a fight. Anything can happen in a fight especially when you have a guy who hits as hard as Conor does, and when you have a guy who is as talented as Floyd.
White compares McGregor talk to Muhammad Ali
In an interview with Olivi, White praises McGregor.
At press conferences and doing media he’s great at it. He’s the best. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone in the sport ever – other than Ali – who is so entertaining, can take a press conference and turn it into a must-see. His timing is perfect. He’s witty, he’s smart, he’s hilarious. But that’s what happens when you’re a superstar. That’s the difference between superstars and not superstars…When you sit down and you listen to him and he’s joking…he’s a very contagious person…Do I give Conor a little more leash than I give some other people? Absolutely. Because Conor steps up, he fights, puts all of his chips on the table. He’s one of a kind. Conor’s awesome.
#ICYMI: @UFC President @danawhite sat down for an exclusive in-depth interview with @MeganOlivi in the latest Exchange on #UFCFIGHTPASS! pic.twitter.com/CwfNbfG3Vc
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) April 25, 2017
White: McGregor ‘will hit’ Mayweather
Appearing with Snoop Dogg, White says McGregor can beat Mayweather.
At the end of the day it’s a fight. Floyd Mayweather is 40 years old; Conor McGregor is 27. Conor’s a big dude. Floyd has trouble with southpaws; Conor McGregor is a southpaw. And Conor McGregor hits like a truck. When he hits you, you know it. So, in no way, shape or form am I saying Conor McGregor wins this fight. I don’t know. But it’s more interesting than people think it is. … I promise you Conor McGregor will hit him. When they fight (Mayweather) will get hit, and it will be interesting to see what happens.
White: McGregor will make $75 million from Mayweather fight
White talks about the negotiations for the fight between McGregor and Mayweather.
It depends on how much the fight sells. If the fight sells as well as I think it can, Floyd makes a little north of $100 [million] and Conor makes $75 [million]. [Mayweather] feels like he’s the ‘A’ side and he should get more of it. We really haven’t got into that negotiation yet. I wanted to get McGregor locked in first because McGregor is under contract with me. At the end of the day does this fight make a ton of sense for me? It really doesn’t but Conor wants this thing really bad and I’ve said this many times, kid’s stepped up and saved some big fights for me. I’m in, I’ll figure it out…I don’t think Floyd will personally be there himself. Whether he’s there or not there, it’s all the same thing. He’s going to hear what we’re looking for…There’s no doubt people want to see this fight. It’s all anybody ever asks me about. I’m going to do my best to see if I can get this thing done. I’m not saying I can, but we’re trying to.
White on McGregor v. Johnson: ‘Anything is possible’
White says a fight between McGregor and Johnson is unlikely, but possible.
Conor McGregor has got a long line of people waiting on him…Umm, no. I don’t see that [the fight will happen]…Listen, I didn’t think that Nate Diaz was going to fight either. Anything is possible. We’ll see.
White not expecting Rousey to return to UFC
At the UFC 210 post-fight media scrum, White says he is not expecting Rousey to return to the UFC.
Ronda and I talk maybe once a week, once every two weeks. She has not said anything to me about a comeback…If I had to guess, I would guess that she would not come back.
White calls out Jeff Mayweather, Bob Arum over McGregor purse claims
At the UFC 210 after-fight press conference, White criticizes Jeff Mayweather’s and Bob Arum’s claim that the UFC would take a high percentage of McGregor’s purse.
What I would like to clarify is all the bullshit about the 80 f-cking 20 split. Jeff Mayweather? Come on, Jeff. Me and Jeff go way back. Jeff, are you the spokesman now for f-cking Team Mayweather? And Bob Arum? You piece of shit. F-ck you, too. What do they know about this fight? You want to know what they know about this fight? Nothing. Believe me, we’ve had preliminary talks with Conor and I’m in a good place with Conor and we’re going to meet in New York when he has his baby.
White: McGregor-Mayweather to happen in 2017
White says the Mayweather-McGregor fight will happen in 2017.
I think you will [see it before the end of 2017]. Conor McGregor is having a baby right now. After his girlfriend delivers her baby, we will start working on this deal. I think we are actually there [in terms of the financial details]. I think we are in a good place. I just need to get together with him and finalize some stuff and then it’s on to Mayweather.
When asked if there is a risk to McGregor:
Absolutely and I think you have to look at it for instance, [seven] years ago, James Toney came into the UFC and fought and he got completely embarrassed in a minute and a half in another sport [against Randy Couture]…[But] If you sit down and talk to Conor McGregor, he’ll make you believe he’s going to win the fight. I’m fascinated to see how this thing plays out.
White: McGregor-Mayweather will be ‘one and done’
White says that he is pushing back on those asking for more MMA-boxing crossover fights.
No, I don’t like the idea of opening up a bunch of different crossover fights. But you know, now this things been talked about so big it’s all everybody wants to talk about now, and my guys are saying they wanna fight that guy and other boxers saying they wanna fight this guy, no, this is going to be a one and done. That means the discussion itself can be refocused on the money men, McGregor and Mayweather, a fight that as traction builds continues to garner speculation and prediction…It’s an intriguing fight, it really is intriguing…If you break the thing down — and listen, everyone has their opinions, and I’m not going to say who’s going to win or lose — Floyd’s 40-years old. Conor’s 27. Floyd has trouble with southpaws, Conor’s a southpaw. Conor has knockout power in both hands, and Floyd does not. It’s an intriguing fight.