UFC CEO Dana White has drawn flak from the fans with his recent comments about Conor McGregor and his highly anticipated comeback! The Irish MMA icon and his return have been the source of much speculation within the MMA community as McGregor has been out of competition since 2021. His return, slated to occur against Michael Chandler after TUF 31 last year, has also yet to be confirmed with delays in McGregor’s availability for athlete testing cited as one of the reasons.

But in a recent interview, the UFC head honcho revealed his thoughts on McGregor’s return and claimed that he wants to know if ‘The Notorious’ is in “full camp and ready to go.” However, his assertion regarding McGregor’s financial success being the reason behind his reluctance to fight again hasn’t sat well with the fans who made their displeasure known on social media! 

Dana White reveals his issues with Conor McGregor’s comeback

In an interview with Kevin Iole, Dana White discussed two main reasons behind McGregor’s delayed fight schedule. White revealed that McGregor’s recovery from his severe leg injury is one factor, comparable to those suffered by Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman in the past.

But another reason revealed by the UFC boss is McGregor’s financial stability, which affects his motivation for fighting, per him. He stated, “Conor McGregor doesn’t need the f*cking money. So, when you don’t need the money, it’s not as easy – I mean Khabib (Nurmagomedov) doesn’t need the money. Khabib retired… I need to know the guy’s in a full camp and he’s ready to go.”

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He also highlighted the fact that outside commitments like film projects and business ventures also impact McGregor’s availability for fights, causing issues with scheduling for the promotion.

Another interesting thing to note is that McGregor’s contract status with the UFC has also been a part of the speculation by fans concerning his return. Rumors suggest that the Irishman may have only 2 fights left in his UFC career, and the promotion is leveraging his return to get him to sign a new contract!

Nevertheless, the fans took to the comment section to highlight their displeasure with White’s remarks, with the UFC’s issues with fighter pay being a main concern for many in the comment sections! Let’s take a look at what the netizens had to say!

Fans highlight their displeasure with the UFC and White’s statements  about McGregor

Fans pointed out that White’s statements regarding McGregor are an indicator of the fighter underpayment issue in the promotion:

“This is why they underpay fighters, it’s not financial greed, it’s so that the establishment has all the negotiating power to make fighters accept whatever terms they’re presented with”

They also criticized the promotion’s reliance on financially vulnerable fighters and the bad visuals that result from the practice:

“Basically it’s easier to convince broke fighters into a fight. This doesn’t look good lol”

Some, however, questioned McGregor’s commitment to fighting instead:

“He wasn’t even in a full camp when he fought Khabib. Why don’t care now?”

With questions also being raised about ‘The Notorious’s lavish lifestyle outside the cage:

“Translation: working out on your yacht doesn’t count”

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Fans also pointed out that boxers, despite earning millions, still train with dedication and commitment, a quality they find lacking in McGregor:

“Boxers have millions and still manage to train…If Conor isn’t a committed fighter anymore then just move on”

Others took hilarious jabs at Michael Chandler and his wait for the McGregor bout:

“Michael chandler will see this and still think he’s fighting Conor”

While some expressed skepticism about McGregor’s comeback pointing out the promotional tactics on display:

“The whole thing with tuf and chandler was just to promote forged stout and mcgregor fast he’s not coming back”

The uproar among fans following Dana White’s ultimatum for Conor McGregor reflects broader concerns about fighter compensation and commitment within the UFC. These sentiments underscore ongoing debates surrounding fighter pay, contractual obligations, and the authenticity of promotional strategies in the UFC.

Do you think Dana White is correct about Conor McGregor and his return? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

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