UFC chief Dana White has claimed that money has ‘complicated’ Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return to the organisation.
The 35-year-old’s last bout ended in disaster as he broke his leg in the first round of his trilogy showdown with Dustin Poirier in the summer of 2021.
Despite suggestions that he’d return to the octagon in 2023 to face lightweight contender Michael Chandler, McGregor is yet to make a comeback.
White previously teased that the return of ‘Notorious’ is being earmarked for autumn this year however, after his latest comments, that may not be the case.
Speaking during Saturday’s UFC 298 post-fight press conference, White said: ‘First problem was that he broke that shin bone.
UFC chief Dana White has claimed that money has ‘complicated’ Conor McGregor’s return
White previously teased that the return of ‘Notorious’ is being earmarked for autumn this year
‘He was recovering from that. That was one of the reasons. The other problem is he’s f***ing rich.’
White then went on to hint that McGregor’s role in the upcoming film ‘Road House’ where he’ll have obligations to promote the film in the build-up to it’s release.
He continued: ‘I don’t know. Conor McGregor‘s got a lot of money. Any time we get Conor, we’ll be happy. You know, we’ll be thrilled when he comes and fights.
‘Money complicates a lot of things. He just filmed a movie. He’s got to do the press for the movie, and he’s got obligations with that. He does want to fight this year, but we’ll see what happens’.
The UFC was also involved in the movie’s production as Gyllenhaal’s character appears to be an ex UFC fighter. The film shot fight and weigh-in scenes through UFC 285 in March with McGregor heavily involved in the marketing efforts.
The movie was shot in the middle of McGregor’s hiatus after breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. The former two-division champion is yet to see the Octagon since.
In a video posted on New Year’s Eve, McGregor announced that he will be fighting Michael Chandler at 185 lbs in Las Vegas however White shut that down.
White also took the chance to praise McGregor as ‘one of the best business partners we’ve ever had’
The UFC pinned McGregor against Michael Chandler in the last season of The Ultimate Fighter
The UFC chief continued: ‘Conor McGregor has probably been one of the best business partners we’ve ever had.
‘Getting Conor to show up to sh*t on time is a problem. But Conor, as far as the business goes, everybody talks about how Conor used to be on the dole and all this stuff.
‘For a guy that was on the dole, Conor McGregor is a very good business man, and Conor McGregor has always been a great partner to us.
‘There’s never any hanging out and haggling for money or, you know, ‘You pay me more money.’ Conor McGregor has never done anything even remotely close to that. It’s the exact opposite.
