UFC: Dana White says Conor McGregor could return on Fight Island ‘but it kills me’ to lose ‘almost US$20 million gate’
- UFC president White says former two-division champ is ‘in shape’ and ‘ready to go’
- But White is reluctant to lose the huge revenue McGregor brings in ticket sales without fans
Conor McGregor was training to be ready to go if the Tony Ferguson vs Khabib Nurmagomedov match-up fell apart for a fifth time. It did, but it was Justin Gaethje, and not former two-division champion McGregor, who is reaping the benefits.
Gaethje faces Ferguson for the interim lightweight title at UFC 249 on May 9, with McGregor stranded in his native Ireland amid the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s a similar situation for every non-US based UFC fighter, which has prompted the company to construct a private “Fight Island” so it can skirt visa issues. And that’s where “The Notorious” could be headed next.
“Conor’s been ready to fight for a while,” UFC president Dana White told CBS Sports’ Jim Rome on Tuesday. “He’s in shape. He’s ready to go.
“First of all, ‘Fight Island’ is going to be very important in any of these fights that are happening with people from outside the country.”
The only sticking point White foresees with bringing McGregor to “Fight Island” would be the millions of dollars he would be throwing away.