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https://scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3035769/ufc-looking-cowboy-conor-mcgregor-comeback Mixed Martial Arts
UFC ‘looking at Cowboy’ for Conor McGregor comeback fight, Dana White confirms
- UFC president says fight being lined up for January 18 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
- ‘Nothing is even close to being done … it might not happen’
Conor McGregor attends a news conference in Moscow, Russia. Photo: Reuters
Dana White has confirmed one of the worst-kept secrets in MMA – that the UFC is targeting Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone for Conor McGregor’s comeback.
The former lightweight and featherweight champion announced at a Moscow press conference on his promotional tour of Russia last week that he would be stepping back into the Octagon on January 18 in Las Vegas.
“Ask the UFC who the opponent is, because I do not give a f*** who the opponent is,” the Irishman said. Reports quickly emerged the UFC was looking at Cerrone or Justin Gaethje, the No 2-ranked lightweight.
Cowboy himself turned a few fans’ heads this week, telling McGregor to “sign the damn deal” this week. Well, now UFC president White has let the cat out of the bag.
“We’re looking at Cowboy,” he told TMZ Sports, when asked who McGregor would fight. “No 3 versus No 5, January 18 at the T-Mobile in Las Vegas.”
White stressed caution, however, with McGregor’s team still seemingly stalling on a deal.
“We have nothing done, nothing is even close to being done,” he said. “I hate to even talk about this stuff and say it because it might not happen … it might happen.”
McGregor has not fought in the UFC since a fourth-round submission defeat by Khabib Nurmagomedov last October.