Dana White speaks out on Conor McGregor next fight amid Manny Pacquiao claims
Conor McGregor is currently enjoying his third retirement from mixed martial arts.
UFC president Dana White insists there's no chance of Conor McGregor fighting in front of fans in the near future. The promotion's first simultaneous two-division champion is currently enjoying his third retirement from mixed martial arts, which he announced in June.
He has, however, recently had conversations with White about returning to the Octagon, which he last graced in January.
At this moment in time, White is expecting the promotion's poster boy to return to action in early 2021.
He has, however, left the door open for an end-of-year return for the Irishman, who was hoping to fight three times this year before the coronavirus pandemic struck.
According to White, the promotion are working on some "fun stuff" for 'The Notorious'.
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I got nothing. That's all I have still.
But as usual, the UFC chief is keeping his cards close to his chest.
"I got nothing about Conor," he told ESPN's Brett Okamoto when asked to shed light on what's in the pipeline for McGregor. "That's all I have still."
Given the sheer revenue his fights generate, many believe McGregor won't be back in action until the promotion can have fans pack out a full arena.
That, thought, however has not even crossed White's mind.
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"No. I'm not even thinking about fans," White said when asked if McGregor's next could involve fans. "Not even crossing my mind.
"We miss them, we can't wait until they come back. But it's not even something that I'm thinking about.
"We've still got a handle full people; everybody is still wearing masks. Fans? Not even a discussion yet."
So what are White's thoughts on having a reduced and socially-distanced crowd take in McGregor's next outing?
That idea, which has been implemented by the NFL, doesn't appeal to the 51-year-old, who said: "I would never do that. I would never do anything that those guys are doing."
He added: "I don't like it. It looks funny, sounds bad. I don't like what any of the other sports are doing. [I'm] not into any of the stuff they're doing."
White's comments on McGregor came before the UFC superstar claimed his next fight will be a boxing match against Manny Pacquiao, which the Filipino senator confirmed in a a statement via his office.
McGregor's next outing, whether it be in the boxing ring or in the Octagon, could be hindered by legal issues. The Dubliner was arrested and questioned in Corsica earlier this month following an allegation of an "attempted sexual assault".
Both McGregor and his management have vociferously denied the allegation.
"Never will I fold!" Ireland's first UFC champion said in a lengthy post on his private Facebook account. "The truth is the truth and it gives me wings!
"I know my character! God bless DNA! God bless Cctv! God bless Eye witness! God bless the truth! The truth is power! I am free!
"Never will a dime be paid to anyone coming at me with vicious lies! Not now not f***ing ever! I will fight! And I am only beginning my fight!
"I will not allow these people to just accuse me and then disappear into the dark to attempt to ruin someone else's life! No f***ing way!"