Dana White Addresses McGregor’s UFC Future

December 9, 2024

1 month

Dana White Addresses McGregor's UFC Future

Dana White has reacted to Conor McGregor being held liable over a sexual assault civil lawsuit.

The jury ordered McGregor to pay Nikita Hand approximately $258,440 after the latter filed the lawsuit in 2021. The filing related to an incident in 2018 where she alleged McGregor sexually assaulted her in 2018 at a Dublin hotel room. James Lawrence was also implicated in the case. Both parties maintained their innocence. While Lawrence was cleared, McGregor was held to account. The Irishman has had the luxury of making lots of money outside the Octagon.

However, the recent fallout of the McGregor case has seen the Irishman suffer financially. The Hitman video game franchise has dissociated from McGregor. The Proper No. 12 Irish Whiskey brand have also distanced themselves. They will no longer use McGregor to market a drink he had helped build before selling it. The airports in Dublin and Cork have also said they will not sell McGregor’s drinks. Ruth Coppinger, an Irish politician, has also been vocal about the idea of boycotting McGregor’s products.

McGregor’s Troubles

“Obviously I feel people already are boycotting his products and there has been a massive commercial backlash for Conor McGregor. People shouldn’t support Conor McGregor, his products nor his premises. I am surprised though that retailers have pulled his products because normally something like this doesn’t affect a person. So the backlash Conor McGregor is getting is significant – retailers and sponsors are reacting and long may it continue,” Coppinger said

White has previously suggested that McGregor does not need to fight due to the money he has made outside of the Octagon. But if he continues to lose money that could change. The Irishman has not had a UFC fight since 2021, when he lost to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. He pulled out of his UFC 303 fight against Michael Chandler due to a broken toe. McGregor then announced a fight against Dan Hooker on February 1. That was never confirmed by the UFC, leaving fans none the wiser.

White Reacts

The UFC has a decision to make about McGregor, given he has two fights left on his UFC deal. If they allow him to fight, there is a risk that their brand will suffer due to the negative perception of McGregor. But there is also a chance that they lose one of their biggest stars. White has now reacted to the situation, saying McGregor’s future is not any clearer at this moment.

“If I had a comment I would’ve put it out already. He hasn’t been fighting here in I don’t know how long. Well, if he does fight it’ll be sometime next year,” White said

If McGregor does not fight in the UFC again, his chances of crossing into other sports will suffer. Boxing promoters may not want to work with the Irishman, especially if the demand to see him has declined. That has left McGregor with plenty to ponder moving forward.