Dana White says Conor McGregor needs to get back to MMA, but notes how badly the UFC lightweight champion wants another crack at Floyd Mayweather.
Conor McGregor is just over four months removed from his 10th round TKO loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in what was the UFC lightweight champion’s pro boxing debut. Once thought as a longshot to materialize, McGregor did end up getting the chance to face one of the greatest boxers of his era, and earned even more oodles of cash along the way.
While we don’t know if or when McGregor is coming back to MMA, he does say he wants a “true fight” next, meaning an MMA bout. UFC president Dana White wants him to return to the Octagon, where he’s the sport’s biggest star, but did note how much McGregor wants another crack at Floyd.
“Conor wants that fight again really bad,” White recently said to FS1 (transcription via MMA Weekly). “I told Conor what you did was amazing. I was sitting there with my partner Lorenzo [Fertitta] and I kept saying, ‘Oh my god, we found this kid in Ireland four years ago. He’s going into the sixth round with Floyd Mayweather. He’s going into the seventh round with Floyd Mayweather.’
“He did extremely well, but Conor was not happy with his performance and obviously Conor, truly he believed he was going to win that fight.”
McGregor was also disappointed with the stoppage decision made by referee Robert Byrd, who ended the fight while the Irishman was still standing, albeit taking several unanswered shots and with the gas tank pretty much on empty. It’s the only time he’s lost by TKO, whether in MMA or his singular pro fight in boxing.
Getting back to MMA, White recently said that he’s looking for McGregor to make his UFC return in the summer, and specifically against interim champion Tony Ferguson, who is currently sidelined after shoulder surgery.