UFC President Dana White has indicated that he is currently not factoring Conor McGregor into immediate fight plans.
During a recent discussion with Adam Glyn, White was questioned about McGregor`s current situation. The Irishman has not fought since breaking his leg during his bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 back in July 2021.
While White had previously sounded hopeful about “The Notorious” potentially returning to action in 2025, his perspective now seems less certain regarding the superstar`s future in the sport.
White stated directly, “He’s not fighting anytime soon. I haven’t talked to him in a minute, but yeah, I don’t know.”
McGregor`s path back to competition has been complicated by multiple factors. Alongside pursuing endeavors outside of mixed martial arts, such as a role in the 2024 `Road House` remake, McGregor also suffered a toe injury. This injury forced him to withdraw from a planned fight against Michael Chandler scheduled for June of this year.
Furthermore, the 36-year-old Dublin native was recently found liable for sexual assault in a civil lawsuit related to a 2018 incident in Ireland. He is also currently dealing with another civil suit regarding an alleged sexual assault that occurred in Miami in 2023.
Although McGregor has shared footage of himself training on social media platforms, it remains unclear whether these posts genuinely signal an intention to return to active fighting competition.
Even as White continues to seek out potential new stars for the promotion, he doesn`t believe any fighter will replicate the unique trajectory and impact of Conor McGregor.
“There will never be another Conor McGregor,” White commented. “There will be another superstar that pops up, but there will never be another Conor McGregor. There will never be another Ronda Rousey, there will never be another Chuck Liddell, ‘GSP.’ Somebody will pop up.”
He elaborated on how fighters become icons, stating that “They make themselves. A hundred percent.” White explained that while the UFC identifies talented individuals, the emergence of true superstars is largely driven by their own personality and connection with the audience. He concluded, “I’m always just looking for the best fighters in the world and the rest is up to them.”
