UFC: Conor McGregor set to fight Dustin Poirier at welterweight – but Dana White rules out Cowboys Stadium
- ‘To see them hydrated and healthy at 170 [pounds] will be fascinating,’ tweets McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh
- White says ‘I expect them to fight’ on January 23 but insists it will be in Las Vegas or Abu Dhabi
Conor McGregor is preparing to fight Dustin Poirier at welterweight, according to his coach, but UFC president Dana White has ruled out the possibility of the bout heading to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Former UFC featherweight and lightweight champ McGregor (22-4) and Poirier (26-6) have publicly agreed to fight on January 23 but the UFC has yet to make an official announcement.
“Watching @TheNotoriousMMA do MMA rounds lately has been a real joy and education,” John Kavanagh tweeted. “Fluidity of movement with elite level timing and skill.
“Dustin has improved so much since first meeting, Conor has improved much more imo [in my opinion]. To see them hydrated & healthy at 170 will be fascinating.”
The 32-year-old McGregor last fought on January 18, 2020 in a 40-second TKO of Donald Cerrone at 170 pounds, in a bid to keep himself fresh for a potential quick turnaround if he needed to cut weight to fight for the lightweight belt.
McGregor “retired” this summer, though, after his calls for a fight with interim champ Justin Gaethje (22-2) fell on deaf ears. Khabib Nurmagomedov (28-0) faces Gaethje on Fight Island next weekend to determine the undisputed champ of the 155-pound division.
Former interim lightweight champ Poirier retweeted Kavanagh’s post, suggesting he is keen on the idea of the fight taking place at welterweight, though it is not clear if the bout would determine the No 1 contender in the lightweight division. The No 2-ranked lightweight Poirier and No 5 McGregor met at featherweight at UFC 178 in 2013, with McGregor stopping the American by TKO at 1:46 of the first round.
White insisted in an interview with the UFC’s official broadcast partner ESPN, however, that the contracts for the fight have not been signed.
“I personally haven’t talked to him [McGregor] but back home [in Las Vegas] they’re talking to his people and he posted publicly that he accepts the date,” White said. “We made that date [January 23, 2021] for him that’s this date, so yeah, I expect them both to fight.”
However, White said the rematch will happen at either the UFC’s Apex facility in Las Vegas or on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, where the UFC finishes up its second run of events next weekend, and not the home stadium of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
“Listen, we’ve had a relationship with [Cowboys owner Jerry] Jones for a long time and we’ve been talking for years about going there, but I’m not going to any arena I can’t fill,” White added.
“I’m not gonna do a quarter of an arena or half an arena. I’m not gonna do that. If things change after this election, hopefully all this nuttiness ends after this election and we can go back to a normal life and fill stadiums, then I will. If not we’ll either do it here on Fight Island or in Vegas.”
Jones appeared open to hosting the fight, though, in comments made in an interview on CBS Dallas radio stream 105.3 The Fan.
“Very much open to it. Very open to it,” Jones said. “I’m a real admirer of his. He’s one of the neatest individuals I think I’ve met, period. He has an unbelievable – to be as physical as he is – he has an unbelievable personality and charisma. He’s special. It would be quite a day for AT&T Stadium to have him.”
McGregor was a guest of Jones’ at a 2018 NFL game between the Cowboys and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“You’re a top man Jerry Jones!” McGregor tweeted in response to Jones’ remarks. “A true leader among men! Reminds me so much of Lorenzo [Fertita, former UFC CEO]. Let’s go Cowboys!”
McGregor commanded a US$10 million-plus gate for the fourth time in his career when he fought Cerrone, with White admitting earlier this year “it kills me” to lose out on such a windfall if he hosts a McGregor fight without fans amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“My goal is to see this fight take place in Cowboy stadium,” McGregor had tweeted earlier this week. “Proper Style! Jerry Jones is a friend and the stadium can hold our crowd. I will be ready for Texas and Texas will be ready for my fans! Then Manny [Pacquiao]. #McGregorSportsandEntertainment.”
