Dana White has provided an update on Conor McGregor’s possible return to the UFC, following McGregor’s ‘the Mac is back’ comments earlier this week.
Conor McGregor has been promoting the remake of the movie, Road House, in which he stars alongside Jake Gyllenhaal. The movie releases this Thursday exclusively on Amazon Prime, with the press tour likely ending once the movie releases.
‘The Notorious’ McGregor teased earlier this week that he has been given ‘confirmation’ for his UFC return, stating it’ll take place in the Summer against Michael Chandler.
The two lightweights coached on the last season of The Ultimate Fighter, but the season didn’t end up culminating with a fight between the two, at least yet.
Dana White addresses McGregor’s Road House movie obligations
Despite McGregor’s comments, UFC President Dana White said on the Pound 4 Pound podcast released early Thursday morning, that they will begin discussions with the Irishman once his press obligations for Road House have concluded.
The former two-weight world champion also questioned the lack of communication on the UFC’s part, to which Dana White responded.
“There’s no lack of communication” White said on the pound 4 pound podcast, “You know where Conor is tonight, he’s in New York City for the premiere of Road House. He has obligations right now to promote this movie, so he’s been flying all over the world going to all the premieres of this launch, this is an obligation that he has to do.”
Although McGregor mentioned on The MMA Hour, that he would’ve ‘made it work’ by balancing the movie obligations alongside a fight camp, Dana White claimed that he couldn’t do both.
“It is what it is, he committed to this movie, he has obligations to this movie, he can’t do both.” White added.
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Dana White says ‘after Thursday’ he and Conor McGregor can start talking about fights
White commented that once McGregor’s movie obligations have concluded on Thursday, they can begin discussing the superstar’s return to action.
“Once this movie launches which is Thursday 21st and boom, I don’t know what his obligations are once it launches, then Conor can get back in the gym and start training full time and getting ready for a camp.
“He’s been a great partner to us and so I like to be a good partner back, Conor needed this time, to handle his obligations, which means from Thursday on we can start talking about fights for Conor.”
McGregor and Chandler matchup
The 35-year-old last competed under the UFC banner in 2021 when he broke his ankle in round one of his third fight with Dustin Poirier.
Michael Chandler on the other hand has seen similar inactivity, with his last fight also coming against Dustin Poirier two years ago, where he lost via third-round submission.
The 37-year-old has made it clear that he is waiting around for McGregor’s return, and will be hopeful that the Irishman’s claims of a Summer meeting are accurate.
McGregor has completed the most amount of tests of any UFC fighter in 2024, under the UFC Anti-Doping program, having already submitted five. That is three more than anyone else in the promotion.
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