Dana White Says Conor McGregor's Next Opponent is Undecided

By Tim Burke September 20, 2024 16:47

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Dana White broke his silence on who Conor McGregor's next opponent will be on Thursday while promoting Irish boxer Callum Walsh's upcoming fight in Dublin, Ireland.

"It is going to be determined when Conor comes back who the opponent is." White told fans at the Q&A about Walsh vs Runowski, leaving the MMA world in anticipation.

McGregor was scheduled to fight Michael Chandler in 2023. The fight was scheduled for International Fight Week at UFC 303 in Las Vegas.
Regrettably, McGregor had to withdraw from the fight due to injury, just two weeks before the scheduled date of June 29th, leaving fans and Chandler disappointed.

Chandler, who had not fought since December 2022, took another fight at UFC 309 in November against Charles Olivera. However, Chandler vs McGregor is still off the table.

"I plan on running through Charles Olivera. Getting out healthy and being able to fight Conor as early as January." Chandler told MMA fighting on Thursday.

Olivera and Chandler had previously met for the lightweight championship at UFC 262. Olivera got the knockout victory mere seconds into round two, which was a significant win in his career. Chandler did not appear in the Octagon for another six months.
Chandler being available to fight in January seems unrealistic. Still, there are options.

"Bro you really got the Conor fight. Congratulations. Beat him again." a fan tweeted to Poirier, and the former interim lightweight champion retweeted.

"This is not over" McGregor screamed at Poirier following his leg break in their last meeting at UFC 264.

A second option could be Justin Gaethje, a longtime lightweight contender who has a long-standing public rivalry with Conor McGregor. It is also worth noting that McGregor wanted that fight in 2020.

"Who's next? Gaethje? When, where? Let's get it going. Same as before. I am going to have my team reach out." - McGregor messaged Dana White in February 2020, expressing his eagerness for a potential fight with Gaethje, a longtime lightweight contender who has a long-standing public rivalry with Conor McGregor. The anticipation for this match has been building for several years.

The fight never occurred.

Every time a potential McGregor fight is mentioned, MMA fans wonder. At this point in his career, with everything Conor McGregor has accomplished in the sport, his money, and his new job in Hollywood, why should he take any unnecessary damage and further risk his health? He does not need to fight anymore. However, there are also potential benefits to his fighting again, such as maintaining his legacy and satisfying his fans' expectations.

"The overwhelming sentiment is that he is done.The more time that passes, the less likely he is to step foot in the Octagon," former UFC champion Daniel Cormier said on his YouTube channel following McGregor's exit from UFC 303.

Dana White's recent comments indicate that the determination of Conor McGregor's next opponent will depend on his return to the Octagon, leaving fans eager for updates. Despite previous plans for a fight with Michael Chandler, McGregor's future in the sport remains uncertain, with discussions of potential matchups against Chandler, Poirier, or Gaethje highlighting the ongoing speculation surrounding his career. With Conor McGregor, the speculation and uncertainty never stop.