UFC: Conor McGregor should wait for Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Justin Gaethje winner, says president Dana White

McGregor’s ‘smartest move’ would be to wait for victor of Khabib and Gaethje’s lightweight title bout says UFC president

White refers to McGregor as a ‘partner’ and explains why the Irishman is different from the other greats

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Former UFC double champion Conor McGregor and UFC president Dana White at a world tour press conference ahead of a cross-over bout with Floyd Mayweather in 2017. Photo: USA Today

Published: 4:16pm, 5 Jun 2020Updated: 4:16pm, 5 Jun 2020

Dana White said Conor McGregor should sit tight and wait for the winner of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Justin Gaethje this autumn.

White had previously entertained the idea of putting McGregor on his upcoming bouts on Fight Island – despite estimating he would lose “US$20 million” in gates. However, the UFC president believes the “smart” move would be to wait for both the lightweight title fight and coronavirus pandemic to play out.

Gaethje’s impressive fifth-round TKO over Tony Ferguson last month guaranteed him a title shot with undefeated champion Khabib this September, said White after UFC 249 on May 9 in Florida. Meanwhile, McGregor has entertained call outs from fighters across the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions.

“The best thing for him - I’m not saying this is gonna happen – but in my opinion he lets this Gaethje vs Khabib fight play out then he fights the winner,” White said on Eddie Hearn and Tony Bellew’s Talk the Talk show.

“I think that's the smartest move for him. But you know him. Maybe he wants to fight before that, and if he does, maybe we can figure something out. But I think that’s the move for him right now.”

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