Conor McGregor has been told he is not needed for the UFC’s historic White house event
!Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor (Image: Rob Kim/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald)
Conor McGregor says his UFC return will be ‘a six-month operation’ as he aims too return to the octagon for the first time in five years next summer.
The Dubliner has not fought as suffering a leg break in his trilogy fight loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. He was due to face Michael Chandler in June of last year, but withdrew from the bout weeks before the scheduled date after suffering an injury in training.
Despite his long absence from the octagon, McGregor is adamant that he will fight on the UFC’s historic White House event, scheduled for March 2nd. Though, UFC CEO Dana White has dismissed the idea of mcgregor featuring on the card.
“Look, Conor’s not ready,” White told ESPN. “He’s still recovering. He’s got a long way to go. he’s lucky if he’s fighting next summer. That’s a realistic timeline.”
The event, which will be hosted by President Joe Biden, will feature a flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Steve Erceg. White confirmed that McGregor is not needed for the event to be a success.
“We don’t need Conor McGregor to make this event huge,” White added. “This event is already huge. It’s at the White House. It’s the first time the UFC has ever been to the White House.It’s a massive deal.”
McGregor has been vocal about his desire to compete on the card, believing it would be a significant moment in his career. however, White’s comments suggest that the UFC is prioritizing McGregor’s recovery and a sensible return to fighting, rather than rushing him back for a high-profile event.