White discusses state of MayGregor negotiations
Dana White: “It’s not that I’m having doubts. But never did I guarantee that a deal would get done. I guaranteed that I would try my hardest.”
UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor is the biggest pay per view television draw in UFC history. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the biggest pay per view in boxing and everything. UFC president Dana White is negotiating a boxing match between the pair, that reportedly offers Notorious around $75,000,000 and Money around $100,000,000 if all goes well. All will go well.
However, while McGregor has reportedly agreed to the outlines of the deal, negotiations with Mayweather remain ongoing. Mayweather recently listed reasons the fight could be competitive, noting he was 40 and McGregor was in his 20s.
“Interesting, I’ve never heard Floyd talk like that,” said White. “Anybody knows, a fight is a fight. Anything can happen in a fight. Especially when you have a guy who hits as hard as Conor does, and when you have a guy who is as talented as Floyd. Anything can happen.”
“Still working on it,” said White. The UFC boss was asked if it was close.
“No,” replied White. “Not close. We’re not close.”
“To get a deal like this done, it doesn’t happen in a couple months. It’s going to be a tough deal to get done. If it gets done at all, it’s going to be tough.
“It’s not that I’m having doubts. But never did I guarantee that a deal would get done. I guaranteed that I would try my hardest. … There’s nobody to blame. I say it all the time – Pacquiao and Mayweather were in the same sport, and look how long that fight took to make.”
The best guess at present is that the bout happens in September.