UFC: Conor McGregor disputes White’s claim over next fight date

Two-time UFC champion Conor McGregor has told Dana White he “deserves” to make his comeback in December after the promotion president said the 36-year-old will not fight this year.

McGregor pulled out of his scheduled bout with Michael Chandler in June with a toe injury but has said the fight will go ahead, by which time the Irishman will have spent more than three years out of action.

“We talked,” White said on Tuesday, discussing his most marketable athlete’s long-awaited return.

“We didn’t meet up but we talked. He wants to fight so we’ll figure it out. Not this year. He won’t fight this year.”

Ah Dana, December is the date! Bring the calendar year home with a winning event! Come on now, what’s this? I am off to altitude next month to prepare. DECEMBER! Tell Dana and UFC WE WANT DECEMBER! WE DESERVE DECEMBER! HTTPS://T.CO/ZTVO4WDBUQ

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) AUGUST 14, 2024

McGregor: December ‘is date’

Responding on social media, McGregor said: “Ah, Dana. December is the date. Bring the calendar year home with a winning event.

“Come on now, what’s this? I am off to altitude next month to prepare. December. Tell Dana and UFC we want December. We deserve December.”

Speaking in May, McGregor said he would fight in September and December after fighting Chandler at UFC 303.

One of the richest athletes in the world, McGregor’s last appearances in the octagon were successive defeats to Dustin Poirier in 2021, breaking a leg in the second of those losses.

🇮🇪 PIC.TWITTER.COM/DOHQQF2BUO

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) AUGUST 2, 2024

McGregor next fight

McGregor called Chandler an “abysmal choice” of opponent in a predictable flurry of tweets directed at the former Bellator champion earlier this month.

“Yes, I look forward to December,” he told the American, adding that he expected to train at Colorado Springs.

“Where the US Olympic athletes train,” McGregor said. “I arrive summer end. I will be ready for what you bring.

“You will be doing your backflip but it will be from of the speed and accuracy of my back hand that will be making you flip.”