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.
White on McGregor vs. Mayweather: ‘I almost feel like I have to make it’
White says he feels almost obligated to help get the McGregor-Mayweather fight organised.
This kid steps up. He’ll fight anybody, anywhere, anytime. A lot of people say it, very few really mean it. Conor McGregor, I call him the unicorn. I’ve never dealt with a kid like this. So for him to have this kind of opportunity, to make this kind of money, this type of a fight that people are so interested in worldwide, I almost feel like I have to make it…It’s a fight that people do want to see. It’s intriguing and obviously it’s a fight that Conor wants because financially it’s going to be massive for him. He’s a guy that I have a lot of respect for. This guy has stepped up at times when people were at his level would never step up. I’ve said this a million times and I’ll say it again — I’m the guy standing in the living room, I’m the guy on the phone when these guys are looking down the barrel of a new opponent a week before the fight and Conor McGregor doesn’t flinch.
White: McGregor can’t fight Mayweather without the UFC
White says that McGregor cannot fight without UFC approval.
We haven’t spoken since [McGregor’s Manchester talk]..He came out and said ‘I can do this without them [the UFC]’ and I guarantee you he can’t do it without us. What I’ve said was that I’ve always been respectful of Conor with the things he wants to do and everything else but if he wants to go down that road it will be an epic fall. And everybody knows exactly what that means. I don’t think anything else needs to be said. That’s it…There’s nothing to talk about. Conor McGregor is under contract with the UFC. He’s out on maternity leave right now and after his girl has the baby we’ll offer him another fight.
White: People need to give McGregor and Trump a chance
White says people should give Trump and McGregor a chance.
I do [think the McGregor-Mayweather fight will happen]. I don’t know [when]. There’s too much money involved…The great things about fights is you never know who’s gonna win…If it was guaranteed that Floyd was going to win this fight why would you pay for it. Conor’s 27, Floyd’s 40. Conor’s the bigger, stronger guy. He’s got knockout power. It’ll be an interesting fight.
On Trump:
I spoke at the RNC, so I was a huge supporter. Everybody needs to give him a chance. I’ve got 17 years’ experience with this guy. Always been good to me. Always been a standup guy. Give him a chance and let’s see what happens.
Diaz: White ‘making up shit about me’
Diaz tweets that White is making up stories about his fight offers. He says he hasn’t been offered any fight.
This f-cker can’t stop making shit up about me and I haven’t been offered any fights except the one laughed at.
This fucker can't stop making shit up about me and I haven't been offered any fights except the one Iaughed at 👊🏼🖕🏼 pic.twitter.com/7gRskEXEP9
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) March 20, 2017
White: ‘I’d never keep Conor from making that kind of money’
White talks about McGregor’s options.
I don’t know [when he will go back to the Octagon]. He obviously has a lot of opportunities right now. Tony Ferguson’s out there. The Floyd Mayweather thing is out there. We’ll see how this thing plays out. [Floyd Mayweather] is still a possibility. It doesn’t make a lot of sense for my business, but I’d never keep Conor from making that kind of money. [The T-Mobile booking] has nothing to do with the Floyd fight. [Conor’s next fight in the UFC is going to be for the 155 pound title]. That’s what it should be.
White believes McGregor-Mayweather will happen
During an appearance on Conan, White tells O’Brien that he believes the fight between McGregor and Mayweather will go ahead.
I do think it’s gonna happen. I think it’s going to be a tough deal, because obviously [there are] a lot of egos involved in this deal and a lot of people, so that always makes it tougher. On the flip side, there’s so much money involved. I just don’t see how it doesn’t happen…It would be boxing. No kicking, no elbows, just straight-up boxing, in a boxing ring with gloves and the whole deal. A lot of things make this fight intriguing but the reality is this — anybody who has ever seen Floyd Mayweather, he’s this big (motioning at his small size). Conor McGregor is huge. He’s 27 years old, he’s in the prime of his career. Floyd is 40. Floyd always had problems with southpaws, Conor is a southpaw and Conor hits hard. When Conor hits people, they go. Floyd’s definitely not knocking him out, that’s for sure. I’m not saying that Conor would win this boxing match but it sure makes it interesting.
White: McGregor-Mayweather ‘nowhere near being done’
White says that the fight between McGregor and Mayweather has not been finalized.
[It’s] nowhere near being done. There is no target date whatsoever.
White: Ferguson ‘devastated’ by Nurmagomedov pull-out
White says that despite Ferguson being paid his fight purse (“show” money) of $250,000 for UFC 209, according to Nevada State Athletic Commission records, he was emotionally crushed he couldn’t compete in what was the most significant and highest-profile fight of his career.
The thing is that he was devastated. He came over to our offices, and he was as bad as anybody I’ve ever seen when a fight pulls out.
White doesn’t know what to do about Nurmagomedov
White says he does not know what to do about Nurmagomedov next.
To be honest with you, Khabib fought [at UFC 205] in New York in November then here in this fight. Two back-to-back weight cuts like that. I don’t know if he can make the weight or if he needs to get a better plan or a dietician. Something. He got within six pounds and was in really rough shape. He’s going to have to take some time to recover from this weight cut, and then I don’t know what to do.
White on calls for money fights: ‘If you’re not Conor McGregor, shut up’
White calls out fighters who are asking him for ‘money fights’.
I’m getting tired of the term ‘money fights’. [Fighter’s say] ‘I want the money fights!’ What, are you all going to move down and fight Conor [McGregor]? Listen there’s no bones about it: Conor is the guy. Conor brings in big gates, big pay-per-view numbers and everything else. Shut up if you don’t. If you’re not him, shut up.
White: No replacement fighter, Ferguson cancelled
White says that, despite several offers, there will be no replacement fight after Nurmagomedov dropped out of his fight against Ferguson. White says he did talk with White says he did speak with Michael Johnson — the last fighter to beat Ferguson — but ultimately cancelled the fight altogether.
The latest is I’m on suicide watch right now…The problem is that we’re one day away from the fight. it’s very hard. I respect the fact that so many people want to take the fight, but we’ll see what happens.
White: McGregor vs St-Pierre was ‘not even close’ to being booked by UFC
White says a St-Pierre-McGregor fight was never realistically discussed.
We were) not even close [to making a fight between McGregor and St-Pierre]. Georges said he could make 155 pounds. But let’s be honest here – everyone wants to take a shot at Michael Bisping. They think he’s beatable, and obviously Georges St-Pierre is no different. So he’s going to step up and try to take his 185-pound title.
GSP vs Bisping announced for later in 2017
White announces St-Pierre will fight Bisping for the middleweight championship of the world later in 2017. Bisping and St-Pierre will have a press conference on this Friday 3rd March in Las Vegas. White:
He wanted to take some time off from the sport. He’s been talking about coming back for a couple of years now.I personally wasn’t a believer, but he and I got together in Las Vegas. We had dinner and got a deal done…He will fight Michael Bisping for the 185 pound title.
White: Nothing set on Mayweather, McGregor to fight in UFC next
White says negotiations with Mayweather are not progressing, and that McGregor will fight in UFC next.
I don’t know where we are with it. We are nowhere. Conor wouldn’t train with [Roach]. Conor’s got his own team and his own crew. I expect Conor’s next fight to be in the UFC in mixed martial arts and to be with the winner of Khabib and Ferguson…[Conor wants the Mayweather fight because it’s] gonna be millions of dollars. The guy’s gonna make anywhere between $30 and $40. [Khabib vs McGregor] is gonna be good. Two nasty guys, number one and number two in the world.
White: St-Pierre might return at 155-pounds
White says St-Pierre may cut to 155-pounds on his comeback, which could potentially set up a weight match with Conor McGregor.
It could be the winner between Tyron Woodley and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, or it could be Michael Bisping. Georges has also talked about fighting at 155 pounds. He says he can make the weight.
White: Woodley’s ‘drama queen’ antics hold him back
White says that rather than racism,Woodley is his own enemy.
The thing is with Tyron, first of all; he’s a smart guy. He’s a good looking kid. He’s explosive. He’s got knockout power; but he’s a bit of a drama queen. … When a fight is made — and Conor McGregor is a perfect example — Conor McGregor has that fight anybody, anywhere attitude, but doesn’t just have the attitude, he lives it. I’ve stood in front of him [with] ten days notice and he doesn’t care. He doesn’t care. If Tyron Woodley had that attitude, Tyron Woodley would be a massive star. Massive star. But he does these things where he literally [go] on Instagram when he knows who he’s fighting next and say ‘I’m not fighting him, I don’t wanna fight him, I think I wanna fight this guy or that guy’. And that’s not what people want to hear…“People don’t want to hear that, and then what he does then, is he’ll start fighting an arguing with people on social media. Then he wonders why when he shows up at a press conference the whole crowds booing him. They’re not booing him because he’s black, there’s tonnes of black guys fighting in the UFC.
White: Nate Diaz has fight offer, Nick Diaz turned down a pair
White says a fight offer has been extended to Nate Diaz, but does not say who the opponent is. White also says he’s turned down multiple fight offers. He says the Diaz brothers currently are at the top of the list in terms of struggling to put fights together, so he can’t predict when either will next be seen inside the octagon.
We just offered Nate Diaz a fight, and we’re waiting to hear back from him, so we’ll see. These guys say they want a fight – I offered Nick Diaz two fights. He turned down two fights. I offered him Robbie Lawler. Robbie Lawler accepted the fight. Then I offered him Demian Maia. Nick Diaz turned down two fights. And then we just offered Nate a fight…The most difficult to get into the octagon? Right now, it’s the Diaz brothers – right here, right now. But throughout history? I don’t know.
White gives low odds on McGregor-Mayweather fight
White says he is not meeting with Mayweather, and that he thinks the odds of a fight with McGregor are low.
We’re definitely not meeting in Houston…I think the odds of [McGregor-Mayweather] happening are like the odds of me being the backup quarterback for Brady on Sunday.
