White: McGregor not in my plans for 10 months

Conor McGregor announced after UFC 205 that he was taking off until May, when he and longtime partner Dee Devlin are expecting their first child. He also said he would not fight until he received equity in the company. In a response perhaps related to the two, White said he wasn’t expecting McGregor back for ten months.

McGregor balked at the notion in an interview with RTE earlier this month.

I know Dana’s been on record like, ’10 months – he’s taking 10 months off,’ said McGregor. What do you say 10 months? Originally I thought the baby was being born in March and then it was May, so I was like maybe I could get another one. I just don’t know. I’m weighing out my options.

I’m ready for anything. I did say I was going to take a break, but a Christmas break, the holidays. At least give me the holidays off. So look, we’ll see. We’ll see what happens in the future.

UFC president Dana White took part in a rare media scrum ahead of UFC 207, and fielded a wide variety of questions, including about Conor McGregor. He reaffirmed that he expects nothing for ten months.

Conor told me, ‘I’m not available for 10 months. We’re having a baby. My girl stresses out when I fight and I don’t want to put that on her while she’s pregnant.’ I love it. I respect it. I get it. Do your thing, buddy,” said White, as transcribed by MMAjunkie. “And that’s it. He’s not in any of our plans for the next 10 months.

In McGregor’s absence, White is planning an interim title fight, first with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson. Ferguson wanted to break his contract and receive equal pay to Nurmagomedov, and that dog won’t hunt. Then White tried to make Nurmagomedov vs. Jose Aldo moving up from featherweight, but The Eagle’s father and coach wanted him to take some time off.