UFC: Conor McGregor blasts Dana White’s refusal to put Khabib rematch in Moscow
- UFC president White says Moscow ‘ain’t happening’ and prefers Las Vegas, UK, New York or Dallas
- ‘How much money is enough money?’ McGregor responds
After Conor McGregor’s stunning win over Donald Cerrone on Saturday night, UFC president Dana White confirmed what everybody already knew.
The Irishman is going to get another crack at Khabib Nurmagomedov – or face Tony Ferguson, if “El Cucuy” can win the lightweight title from the Russian in April.
But he’s not entertaining any suggestion of making Khabib-McGregor II in Moscow, as McGregor again called for following his 40-second victory in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena.
“Nope, It ain’t happening in Moscow. Why? Why do you think?” White told the UFC 246 post-event press conference. “Many, many reasons.
“We either do it in the UK, New York City, Dallas Texas Stadium, the stadium here [Allegiant Stadium], the T-Mobile. Those are the places that make sense.
“Realistically, Vegas is always the place that makes most sense for massive fights. Unfortunately Khabib is not a big Vegas fan after what happened to him last time. So I dunno.”
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Of course, Khabib was hit with a US$500,000 fine and a nine-month suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for his part in a post-fight brawl outside the Octagon with McGregor’s camp after submitting the former featherweight and lightweight champion in October 2018.
Told of White’s aversion to putting the rematch on in the Russian capital, McGregor was annoyed.
“Why was he against it? How much money is enough money, for f**** sake?” he said. “There’s a lot of money in Russia, a lot of revenue in Russia. I love Russia. I love the Russian people.
“I went to Moscow recently and they’re such a great nation, they’re so passionate about MMA, so passionate about me, and support me greatly. What a place.
“It would be like something out of Rocky movie. I’m very eager to do that. Dana the hometown Vegas boy. I know Vegas people will be campaigning for it. Let’s see.
“I would love that. I create spectacles for the people, that would be one hell of a spectacle. The place would shut down, the world would take notice.
“Your man [Khabib] was saying I wasn’t allowed out there. They were running in the streets screaming my name. I’m more Russian than that man. I would love to go to Moscow to compete there.”
