Dana White Confident Conor McGregor Will Fight Next Year

Dana White is still confident that Conor McGregor will fight next year, despite continuing speculation over the Irishman’s future.
McGregor’s UFC career has derailed since his 2021 defeat against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. The defeat was accompanied by a broken leg, as it was his third loss in his last four UFC fights. Since then, he has struggled to get back to full fitness. He was set to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29. However, McGregor withdrew from the fight after suffering from a broken toe. Chandler has since then directed his attention towards a rematch with Charles Oliver at UFC 309, leaving speculation over whether McGregor will fight again.
McGregor’s Struggles
McGregor recently was in Spain for a BKFC event, after which he confirmed his next fight. He revealed that he would fight Dan Hooker on February 1, but the UFC has not confirmed that, meaning that fans will still have to wait to see if the Irishman will return. McGregor still has two fights left on his UFC contract. The presser for the Chandler fight showed that he still had commercial pulling power as it sold out in nine minutes. The live gate for the event was also set to make a new UFC record at that time, exceeding $20 million. However, there are concerns that the Irishman is struggling to stay disciplined outside of the octagon.
He has frequently been pictured drinking his Forge Irish Stout brand and having cigars with him. That lifestyle will work against McGregor, especially since he is returning from a career-threatening injury. It would also impact his ability in the octagon. It is very difficult to see him recapture the form that once made him a two-weight UFC champion.
McGregor has also shown erratic behaviour by calling out various names, such as Ilia Topuria and Belal Muhammad, by firing verbal shots on social media. Although he is targeting the big names online, his behaviour suggests he is not ready to face elite-level opposition. White has also suggested that perhaps McGregor does not have the motivation any longer since money is not a motivating factor. And yet, White still expected McGregor to fight next year.
White Reacts
“He’s fighting with everybody right now, but he’s not fighting anybody right now [laughs]. You know, I’ve said this a lot. Conor has gotten into a position where he’s made so much money. He has all these businesses that continue to make him a lot of money.
“It’s tough to get up and fight when you’re in the position that he’s in. But, I do believe that Conor McGregor will fight in 2025. There is no fight made or a date set or any of that. But, I believe. If you watch what I was saying in 2024, I was saying I don’t think he’s gonna fight in 2024. I do believe he will fight in 2025,” White said
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