Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor targeted for Memorial Day weekend in Las Vegas

Conor McGregor won’t get his wish of a title fight in Dublin’s Croke Park. But he’s not about to complain after finding out that his match with UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo Jr. is being targeted for the UFC’s traditional Memorial Day weekend event in Las Vegas.

“It’s absolutely perfect,” McGregor said Sunday night. Of course, the stadium is a dream of mine, a vision of mine.  … Vegas? I’m happy with Vegas.”

McGregor was reacting to UFC president Dana White’s declaration at the UFC Fight Night 59 post-fight press conference that the McGregor-Aldo bout would take place instead of Vegas, instead of Dublin’s famed, 82,000-seat hurling ground.

White explained the logistical reasons which made the Irish venue an impractical choice.

“There’s a lot of obstacles for Croke Park,” White said. “The time, they have a curfew at night where you can’t get permits to stay out that late and do an event there. You lose about 25 to 30 percent on pay-view being in another country. The amount of money on the production for Croke Park, and I can guarantee you it’s going to rain. … I’m not saying we’re never going to do it, but Vegas for this one. “

After pausing to take a swig from a cup of whiskey, McGregor went into a bit of banter explaining why he’s okay with taking the bout in Nevada.

“We discuss, as you can see, it’s tradition,” said McGregor, who finished Dennis Siver in the second round of Sunday’s UFC Fight Night 59 main event. “I remove a head. I bring it backstage, I place it on Mr. White’s desk. Here you go boss, another one down. Then we discuss big business, so when we discuss big business, big business goes down in Viva Las Vegas. So we’re going to go to Las Vegas, and one more head will be collected.”

Conor McGregor won’t get his wish of a title fight in Dublin’s Croke Park. But he’s not about to complain after finding out that his match with UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo Jr. is being targeted for the UFC’s traditional Memorial Day weekend event in Las Vegas.

“It’s absolutely perfect,” McGregor said Sunday night. Of course, the stadium is a dream of mine, a vision of mine.  … Vegas? I’m happy with Vegas.”

McGregor was reacting to UFC president Dana White’s declaration at the UFC Fight Night 59 post-fight press conference that the McGregor-Aldo bout would take place instead of Vegas, instead of Dublin’s famed, 82,000-seat hurling ground.

White explained the logistical reasons which made the Irish venue an impractical choice.

“There’s a lot of obstacles for Croke Park,” White said. “The time, they have a curfew at night where you can’t get permits to stay out that late and do an event there. You lose about 25 to 30 percent on pay-view being in another country. The amount of money on the production for Croke Park, and I can guarantee you it’s going to rain. … I’m not saying we’re never going to do it, but Vegas for this one. “

After pausing to take a swig from a cup of whiskey, McGregor went into a bit of banter explaining why he’s okay with taking the bout in Nevada.

“We discuss, as you can see, it’s tradition,” said McGregor, who finished Dennis Siver in the second round of Sunday’s UFC Fight Night 59 main event. “I remove a head. I bring it backstage, I place it on Mr. White’s desk. Here you go boss, another one down. Then we discuss big business, so when we discuss big business, big business goes down in Viva Las Vegas. So we’re going to go to Las Vegas, and one more head will be collected.”