The saga of Conor McGregor’s comeback continues to be MMA’s favorite “will they, won’t they” storyline. UFC CEO Dana White has finally put his foot down on the matter, drawing a line in the sand that pushes the return of ‘The Notorious’ into 2025. For fans counting at home, that’s pushing close to a four-year hiatus since his last infamous dance in the octagon.
Speaking on the Outta Pocket podcast with Robert Griffin III, White didn’t mince words about McGregor’s situation. The UFC boss pointed out that between his flourishing whiskey business and various other ventures, the former champ-champ has built himself a comfortable empire outside the cage. And it’s tough to get motivated for a fistfight when you don’t need to.
“There is no fight made or a date set or any of that, but I believe. If you watch what I was saying in 2024, I was saying, ‘I don’t think he’s going to fight in 2024’. And I do believe he will fight in 2025.”
The timing of this announcement carries a particular sting for fight fans who had their hopes up for UFC 303. Conor McGregor was supposed to face Michael Chandler this June, but a pinky toe injury derailed those plans. Now, they will have to wait until 2025.
Conor McGregor’s situation reflects a unique problem in combat sports: When does success become a deterrent to competition? White’s frank assessment suggests that McGregor’s business triumphs might be the very thing keeping him from returning to the business of fighting. It’s hard to blame a guy for prioritizing his empire over getting brain damage!
Conor McGregor Planned To Fight At UFC 310 In December
The UFC CEO has time and again opined that McGregor wouldn’t return until 2025. But soon after Dana White’s recent comment, the former two-division champion responded to a fan’s “December champ?” query with a simple “Yes,” sending the combat sports world into yet another frenzy.
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At the time, the December timeline actually made some sense from a scheduling perspective. No card had yet been revealed, and the UFC’s calendar was wide open. However, fight fans have learned to take McGregor’s declarations with not just a grain of salt but the entire shaker.
Now, Dana White recently announced the UFC 310 card, which does not include Conor McGregor. This further solidified the UFC CEO’s plans for the Irish star in 2025. It remains to be seen if 2025 will eventually see the return of the ‘Mystic Mac’ after a four-year hiatus.
Also Read: Dana White Reveals True Story After Allegations Of Conor McGregor Ducking Justin Gaethje Emerge
