Conor McGregor isn't fighting at UFC 223 for THIS reason - Dana White's huge statement
CONOR MCGREGOR was never in contention to replace Tony Ferguson at UFC 223, the promotion's president Dana White has revealed.
Conor McGregor, UFC lightweight champion
Ferguson was forced to withdraw from his eagerly-anticipated lightweight title bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov due to a knee, the result of a freak accident at Fox Studios.
UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has stepped in on six days' notice to face Nurmagomedov, saving the promotion's biggest card of the year in the process.
Naturally, many wondered why McGregor, the current ruler of the lightweight division, wasn't drafted in to face 'The Eagle'.
According to White, he didn’t contact ‘The Notorious’, who has taken several multiple short-notice fights in the past, to save the card as he didn't think he'd be able to make championship weight in less than six days.
"I don't think Conor McGregor could make the weight on six days' notice," the UFC chief told ESPN's Brett Okamoto. "That's a tough weight cut for him.
"And Conor is not the guy I want to throw in as a late replacement fighter.
“He's a guy I want to make a fight with and have the right amount of time to promote the fight.”
Conor McGregor stars in Burger King advert
I don't think Conor McGregor could make the weight on six days' notice
McGregor, 29, hasn’t set foot inside the Octagon since his historic UFC 205 victory over Eddie Alvarez, a triumph which saw him become the promotion’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion.
The Irishman has yet to reveal his plans for his long-awaited comeback fight but is said to be targeting a September bout.
"I think Conor could return in September, and it could be against one of these guys,” White added.
Dana White didn't get Conor McGregor to save UFC 223 as he didn't think he'd be able to make weight
Despite the fact McGregor hasn’t given a concrete update on his future, he is ‘adamant’ he will return to mixed martial arts.
“We can’t really talk about when he wants to return,” the Dubliner’s striking coach Owen Roddy recently told Express Sport. “But he’s adamant he’s getting back.
“But for me, the sooner (he’s back) the better. The UFC is really missing Conor, I believe.
Conor McGregor recently hinted that he's ready to make his return to the UFC
"And I think everybody is missing the whole extravaganza of a Conor McGregor fight.
"There’s nothing like it in the world.
“And I think the people in the world want to see it again. The sooner the better.”