Dana White by no means felt actually assured that Conor McGregor would combat once more, but it surely had nothing to do with the damage that knocked McGregor out of UFC 303 on June 29.
Whereas particulars concerning the damage and the way lengthy McGregor could also be sidelined stay a thriller, the UFC CEO mentioned he by no means counts on some superstars to combat once more after amassing an enormous fortune and already establishing themselves as all-time legends. White already questioned if McGregor would return after he suffered a ugly damaged leg again in 2021, and this newest damage hasn’t subsided his considerations in any respect.
“That’s an ideal query,” White informed Jim Rome when requested if maybe we’ve seen the final of McGregor already. “Conor’s going to be 36 in July. He’s received loads of cash. I don’t ever assume that guys like that, Jon Jones, who is aware of, possibly he’ll combat once more, possibly he gained’t. Conor McGregor, possibly he’ll combat once more, possibly he gained’t. You by no means know with among the guys that get to that stage. You by no means know if you happen to’re ever going to see them once more.
“The opposite factor with getting older … you get injured loads simpler, you get harm loads simpler. Extra accidents occur than did while you have been youthful, and also you’re much less keen to step in there with an damage than while you have been younger and hungry and broke.”
As disappointing because it was to lose McGregor’s return combat at UFC 303, White didn’t sound all that shocked, as a result of that’s simply the character of the enterprise.
It’s another excuse why White mentioned he doesn’t stress himself out an excessive amount of on the subject of guys like McGregor combating or not.
“It occurs,” White mentioned. “The factor with me is, as soon as I begin to get these guys which can be older, you get the blokes which have cemented their legacies and make their cash and achieved their issues, the Jon Jones, the Conor McGregors, these guys, I’m by no means very optimistic as it’s. Hear, I’m within the combat enterprise. I’ve received to placed on fights each Saturday. When these sort of fellows present up, it’s enjoyable, however I run the enterprise.”
White did shoot down any conspiracy principle that maybe McGregor wasn’t actually injured, however as an alternative was searching for a greater UFC contract earlier than combating once more. McGregor has overtly acknowledged that he solely has two fights left on his present UFC deal and that talks had began on reaching an settlement on an extension, though nothing has ever been finalized.
“I’ve mentioned it many instances earlier than and I’ll say it once more, Conor McGregor has by no means achieved that,” White mentioned. “Conor McGregor by no means leads as much as a combat and tries to renegotiate his contract or get more cash. He’s by no means achieved something even remotely near that. He’s as strong as strong may be on the subject of being a enterprise companion.
“Conor McGregor is harm proper now. It’s completely actual. No, he’s by no means achieved something like that.”
With McGregor out once more for an undetermined period of time, that leaves his opponent Michael Chandler caught in limbo as soon as once more.
Chandler hasn’t fought since November 2022, largely as a result of he accepted a training alternative reverse McGregor on The Final Fighter 31 below the guise that they’d finally meet within the octagon.
Now, Chandler remains to be ready almost two years later, and this newest setback from McGregor places him within the unenviable place of deciding if he ought to lastly quit on the combat or proceed to place his profession on pause.
“I feel poor Chandler desires to attend for Conor McGregor,” White mentioned. “No matter he desires to do. If he desires to get a combat this summer season, we’ll do no matter he desires. He’s one of many biggest athletes I’ve ever labored with.
“He’s a superb human being and I like him loads. No matter he desires to do, we’ll determine for him.”
