Dana White says it is all on Conor McGregor for next fight and negotiations
Current UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor stated after winning the lightweight belt from Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 that he would be taking time off from fighting for the birth of his first child. “The Notorious” also stated that he wants to meet with the new owners of the UFC to talk business and said that if they want him to continue fighting in the Octagon to bring in the massive numbers, he wants some shares in the company.
UFC President Dana White spoke with the media on Wednesday ahead of UFC 207 and said that he hasn’t been thinking about McGregor ever since the lightweight champion told him his timeline to fight again.
“The last conversation that Conor and I had, he was taking 10 months off,” White said (transcribed by MMA Fighting). “So everybody keeps talking. I’m not even thinking about Conor. Conor is not in my plans for the next 10 months.
“We run a business where we make fights. I know who’s available, I know who’s not available. Right? Conor told me, ‘I’m not available for 10 months. We’re having a baby. My girl stresses out when I fight and I don’t want to put that on her while she’s pregnant.’ I love it, I respect it, I get it. Do your thing, buddy. And that’s it. He’s not in any of our plans for the next 10 months.”
McGregor most recently told RTE in an interview that he had no idea of where White’s timeline of 10 months came from but does want to talk to new UFC owners Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell “to see what their plan is.”
White said that regardless of timeline, he is waiting on McGregor to start the talks and get things rolling.
“When Conor’s ready to talk, he knows where I am,” White said.
When do you expect Conor McGregor to fight again? Give us your thoughts in the comment section on when you think “The Notorious” will step into the Octagon again and who you think he will face.
Topics:
Conor McGregor Dana White