Dana White opens up on relationship with Frankie Edgar

After Nate Diaz was given the spot opposite Conor McGregor at UFC 196, UFC President Dana White revealed that Frankie Edgar was forced to turn the bout down due to a torn groin.

After it was announced that Diaz had taken the fight on short notice, Edgar went off on the UFC for making it seem as though he refused the fight, when in reality he was unable to accept. Edgar went as far as to say that the ‘C’ in UFC stands for Conor.

Following the UFC London weigh-ins, UFC President Dana White spoke to Ariel Helwani to discuss the situation with Edgar.

“I sent him (Edgar) a text saying ‘What are you mad about? What are you screaming about? I called and offered you the fight. You could not take the fight, whether you’re hurt, whether you’re not, it doesn’t matter. You were offered the fight and you turned the fight down.'”

White continued:

“This is a business of opportunity, when opportunity pops up, some people take it and some don’t. And yes, you’re injured or whatever the deal is, but a lot of guys are injured out there. A lot of guys have – don’t get mad at me because you got the phone call and you couldn’t take the fight. Whether you’re hurt, or whatever your reason is, don’t be mad at me because you couldn’t take the fight. How is that my fault? I called you.”