Conor McGregor seems decided to struggle in 2024, however Dana White has different plans.
Days after White shocked many by asserting that McGregor gained’t struggle in 2024 regardless of requires a December date with Michael Chandler, the UFC CEO doubled down on his feedback, reiterating to Canadian broadcast companion SportsNet that he strongly believes McGregor gained’t make his UFC return in 2024 no matter McGregor stating in any other case.
“I don’t know what Chandler’s planning on doing. I do know he’s type of kicking round proper now,” White advised SportsNet. “You already know, you may think about after I stated that, Conor was blowing me up, going, ‘I’ll positively struggle this yr.’ Once we get to a degree the place we’re setting a struggle and I consider {that a} Conor McGregor struggle goes to occur, I’ll announce it.
“As of proper now, I consider that Conor won’t struggle this yr. Conor’s saying he desires to struggle, he desires to struggle in December. We’ll see the way it performs out.”
Following White’s feedback, McGregor issued a easy all-caps assertion on social media Thursday evening: “THE UFC LOVE AND WANT ME FOR DECEMBER! I AM READY.”
Chandler rapidly agreed to McGregor’s proposed December date: “December it’s.”
THE UFC LOVE AND WANT ME FOR DECEMBER! I AM READY.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 16, 2024
McGregor, 35, has been tentatively linked to a UFC return bout towards Chandler since teaching towards the previous Bellator champion on The Final Fighter 31 in early 2023. After a protracted, drawn-out saga, McGregor’s comeback struggle towards Chandler was initially scheduled for June 29 at UFC 303, nonetheless McGregor in the end withdrew from the bout resulting from a damaged pinky toe. “The Infamous” has not competed since struggling a damaged leg in his July 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier, however publicly maintains his need to make a UFC return.
Chandler has additionally sidelined himself since a November 2022 loss to Poirier, largely to attend for McGregor. He advised TMZ on Wednesday that he nonetheless hopes to struggle McGregor in December but additionally indicated a willingness to maneuver on to a unique matchup if the McGregor bout fails to return collectively in 2024. He added that he believes White might not have been completely truthful together with his feedback nixing the thought of McGregor making a winter return.
“There’s no motive why Conor can’t struggle this yr,” Chandler stated. “Clearly, you already know I can struggle this yr. I feel it comes right down to scheduling. December makes a variety of sense. November, you’ve obtained MSG, it’s already type of booked up. Earlier than that, you’ve obtained Abu Dhabi, so December is that large pay-per-view card. You already know, cap off the yr with an enormous pay-per-view, Chandler vs. McGregor. Makes a variety of sense.
“Dana, as a lot as we love him, he has additionally stated some issues that have been simply completely false in press conferences and whatnot — which, that’s his job. Typically it’s his job to provide the precise info; his job is, generally, to provide you misinformation. So generally, saying the struggle isn’t occurring this yr may imply that this struggle is occurring this yr, identical to he did once I already knew I used to be combating June 29.
“So you may learn between the traces, however so far as I do know, this struggle has some very big prospects to struggle by the top of the yr. Conor’s prepared, I’m prepared, let’s signal on the dotted line.”
