Recently, when asked about one fighter who changed UFC forever, Dana White had only one response: Conor McGregor. Considering how the Irishman became the catalyst who turned over the fortunes of the biggest MMA promotion, few may disagree with his reply. Still, some may find it a bit startling as well. Just a few days ago, in the lead-up to the year’s biggest marquee event, UFC 322, White, whose net worth now touches the $500 million mark, expressed strong reservations about the former champion and his bitter rival Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Perhaps a deep dive into why Dana White voiced concerns about two of UFC’s greatest icons should do some justice. To make matters easy, likely answers, however, appeared during an interview. The UFC honcho spoke in detail about his involvement with the fight business. He reflected on how fighters should view their pursuit in the cage. While eyeing a spot on next year’s White House card, Conor McGregor hasn’t stepped into the cage since the 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier. Roughly a year before, an unbeaten Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement after defending his lightweight title against Justin Gaethje.

Dana White gives his take on the fighting career

White’s thoughts on where fighters, even the best ones, could possibly go wrong emerged in the latest episode of Triggernometry. As he sat down with hosts Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster, the talk invariably converged on how he has had to involve himself in tough discussions. More often than not, he had to tell fighters who were once great that it’s time to wrap up. White acknowledged how he had done it several times in the past. It was one of the ‘hardest things’ to do.

To walk away from the corridors of fame is a tough ask, White insisted. He explained further, “I tell all these guys, this isn’t a job. This isn’t a career. You know what I mean? This is an opportunity for you to become as famous as you can possibly be. Many people around the world see the great things that you’ve accomplished and make as much money as you can possibly make.”

Stark reality sets in once you’ve left the shores of fame and money. “They have to go out and and and figure out who they are and what they want to do,” Dana White stated. A few may still find the statements a bit vague.

However, putting it into context after what he said about Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov, the picture becomes clearer.

Why McGregor and Khabib rose above the rest

Speaking with Prince St. Pizza less than a week ago, Dana White lamented how money could have possibly diminished McGregor and Nurmagomedov’s aura. “I mean, money ruins everything. So, once you get too much money involved in the fight business, if you look at Conor, Conor made so much money, and that was it. Then Khabib made s—t load of money, and that’s it,” he said.

McGregor received over $100 million from the Mayweather fight. Later, he stepped into a multitude of businesses. The hustle purportedly took a toll on his cage career.

Likewise, the unbeaten Russian legend also charted a different route. “With Khabib, you know, again, I’ve always said, ‘Wait till we get a Muslim champion,’ you know, three billion Muslims or whatever, but the problem was that he went on a Muslim countries tour. He hit Saudi, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar, and they rained on him. He made so much money that he didn’t have to fight anymore, and his dad passed away, which had a lot to do with him,” White told Prince St. Pizza.

However, in that brief window of opportunity, when they were a part of the UFC, both McGregor and Nurmagomedov gained immense popularity. Indirectly they continue to mark their presence in the combat sports. The journey to reach the level where they currently stand began at UFC. Had they taken their fights as mere assignments or a regular job, then the narrative would have been altogether different.

Do you agree with Dana White’s statement?