There’s been plenty of talk recently about Conor McGregor possibly returning to the cage and or ring, after a couple of teasing tweets he posted. But, Dana White is adamant we won’t see the Irish star fighting this year.
White guarantees McGregor’s done for 2020
Back in June, McGregor punted his initial plans for a three-fight, 2020 year, by announcing he was retiring. At the time, the former featherweight and lightweight champ said he wasn’t excited by the sport anymore, and he also expressed frustration regarding the fact his next fight hadn’t been booked.
Not many people believe McGregor is truly, retired for good. So, when he recently tweeted out “I accept” and then did so again in the Filipino language, Tagalog, buzz about him possibly boxing Manny Pacquaio ratcheted up.
But, during a recent appearance on “My Mom’s Basement”, White was quick to dismiss any talk about McGregor fighting this year (quotes via MMA Junkie).
“This year, he’s retired,” White said.” “He doesn’t have a fight this year, and he won’t have a fight this year. Conor McGregor will not fight in 2020.
“Do we all believe he’ll stay retired?” White asked. “I think most of us don’t believe that he’ll remain retired, but let me put it to you this way: I owe fighters that are under contract with me three fights a year.
OK? If I don’t deliver those three fights a year, I have to pay them. Conor McGregor is retired, whether people want to believe it or not.
“He is not fighting right now, so when he’s not fighting, I don’t even think about him or what he’s doing or any of that stuff on a business level.
I’ll still shoot him a text personally, but on a business level, he’s out of the mix. He’s not fighting at all.
So everybody keeps asking questions about him, and I’m like, ‘Manny Pacquiao? What the f-ck are you talking about?”
White also took the opportunity to take a poke at the media and fans, for running with anything McGregor says.
“These guys keep asking me about Conor McGregor, who is retired,” White said. “Conor plays you guys like fiddles, man.
You guys are like puppets on a string. He’s retired.”
Reaction?
When you consider September’s just a few weeks away, and what’s transpired these past few months, White’s comments shouldn’t be a surprise.
He has repeatedly pushed the idea that McGregor will fight the winner of the Khabib Nurmagomedov – Justin Gaethje fight next. But, that fight’s not happening now until October 24th.
But, if Khabib beats Gaethje, it would be pretty shocking if he agrees to rematch Conor. The champion has said numerous times that McGregor needs to record more pivotal wins, and lately, he’s also talked about fighting Georges St-Pierre next spring.
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