McGregor vs. Aldo planned for UFC 187 on May 23
Although “The Notorious” had visions of Dublin’s Croke Park Stadium, Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo is targeted for UFC 187 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
With an impressive win over Dennis Siver, Conor McGregor’s title fight with UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is now in the works.
We’re looking at May in Vegas, said UFC president Dana White at the UFN 59 post fight press conference.
McGregor had envisioned a fight at Dublin’s 80,000+ capacity Croke Park Stadium. White said there were practical impediments to running the show at Croke Park.
There’s a lot of obstacles for Croke Park, said White. The time … they have a curfew at night where you can’t get permits to stay out that late and do an event there. You lose about 25 to 30% doing a pay-per-view being in another country. The amount of money in production for Croke Park. The outside – I can guarantee you it’s going to rain. I’m not a meteorologist, but I’ll bet you it’s going to rain.
I’m not saying we’re never going to do it, but Vegas for this one.
McGregor was cool with Vegas. And he also rolled with missing his prediction that the fight would be over in under two minutes.
McGregor holds mystical views around fighting, and made space for their accuracy.
“The stadium is a dream of mine, you know, a vision of mine,” began McGregor, who was using the term vision not in its aspirational meaning, but its mystical one. “I think maybe the visions are getting there. Maybe I said ‘two minutes’ it was two rounds. There’s something … I’m onto something, just going with it. Vegas, I’m happy with Vegas.’
McGregor, who had clearly been celebrating, indicated he had already discussed the fight being in Vegas with White and ZUFFA co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta.
“We discussed that, as you can see,” said McGregor reaching for a whiskey.
It’s tradition. I remove a head, I bring it backstage. I place it on Mr. Fertitta and Mr. White’s desk. Here you go, boss, another one done. And then we discuss big business. And we went and we discussed big business. And big business just happens to be in viva Las Vegas. And we are going to be in Las Vegas and one more head will be collected.
UFC 187 is scheduled for May 23. No venue has been announced.