Dana White breaks silence over Conor McGregor’s relationship with UFC after civil lawsuit
UFC's head, Dana White, finally opened up about the ongoing civil case saga involving his biggest star, Conor McGregor.
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Dana White finally reacts to Conor McGregor's civil lawsuit verdict and his status in UFC (Image via Imago)
Conor McGregor and Dana White‘s relationship has been quite fruitful on a business level. The Irish star’s breakout success in the UFC helped grant it a permanent place in the pop culture world. Not only that, McGregor’s stardom helped UFC see its highest-grossing PPV card to this day. After striking big against Floyd Mayweather, McGregor’s fortunes changed, and so did his activity inside the octagon.
Now, recent turmoil over the s*xual assault verdict against the star has dampened his return even more. The Irish fighter has been out of the Octagon since 2021 due to a career-ending injury. Originally, McGregor was slated to fight at UFC 303 against Michael Chandler. But now, given the state of outside of competition legal affairs, things have become increasingly difficult. Now, weeks removed from the verdict, White has offered his thoughts on the case.
What do you mean? What’s my reaction?…. If I had a comment, I would have put it out already…. He hasn’t been fighting here, in I don’t know how long…Well, if he does fight, it will be sometime in the next year.
Dana White via post fight UFC 310 press conference
Ever since the civil case verdict came through, McGregor has faced severe backlash not just from fans but all over the world. From being pulled from IO Interactive’s Hitman Series to being dropped by Proper Twelve Irish Whiskey, it is speculated the star is losing $5-10 million every month. This has left a big question mark upon his future in the UFC and whether or not White would allow his star to compete.
Dana White is asked about Conor McGregor#UFC pic.twitter.com/QayipnoEUx
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) December 8, 2024
Meanwhile, McGregor showcased his interest in making his return early in 2025 against top-ranked contender Dan Hooker. White seemed to push back on the idea, calling for a Q4 timeline for the return of ‘Notorious’. The UFC seems undecided on who the Irish star shall face next and whether his association with the brand continues.
Conor McGregor could lose spot with Dana White’s UFC as return seems ambiguous
After years of absence, UFC 303 seemed like the perfect opportunity for the Irish star to mark his return. But, since the cancellation of the fight due to injury, UFC has been less than forthcoming with the star’s return. McGregor was once hailed as a champion across two weight classes, and now he is nowhere to be seen in the top 15.
UFC has always been welcoming to their biggest star’s return, but something feels quite different this time. On Dana White’s end, there seems to be no hurry to bring his biggest needle mover back. In response to the civil case verdict, a prominent gym in Ireland decided to paint over a McGregor mural. This gesture showcases a sign of the general purview of certain fans in McGregor’s country.
However, White isn’t someone who bows down to public outcry, as the business tycoon is known to be quite forgiving. The MMA giant gave way to former NFL star Greg Hardy in the UFC following a guilty verdict in a domestic violence case.
Incidentally, White has been tight-lipped about McGregor’s return, showcasing no urgency on his part. This ambiguity could spell doom for the ‘Notorious’ but given the track record of the MMA giant, McGregor can still stage a comeback.
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Ayank Chourasia
(95 Articles Published)