Dana Gives Conor No Guarantees

The UFC has been living without Conor McGregor since his loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229,

Yet, ever since his loss and then shock retirement announcement earlier this year, many have wondered what the UFC can or have offered McGregor in hopes to get him back since McGregor initially balked at a fight with Donald Cerrone, because it was a co-main event.

One option is a fight with Jorge Masvidal, who put McGregor on his “face breaking” list after dropping Ben Askren in five seconds at UFC 239.

When asked about that option, UFC President Dana White shot that down quicker than Askren hit the mat.

“Masvidal’s too big for Conor,” White said of the welterweight. “(McGregor) shouldn’t have (fought at 170),” White said of McGregor’s series with Nate Diaz. “I hated that he did it. Not only did I hate that he did it once, I hated that he did it twice.

“There’s plenty of fights for (Masvidal) in his weight division without Conor. He’s too big for Conor. Conor doesn’t belong at 170. He’s got the balls to fight at 170, but he doesn’t belong there. Hell no, (it won’t happen).”

Another option White rules out for a McGregor return, is the winner of the lightweight unification fight between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champion Dustin Poirier at UFC 242.

“I think he’ll either back this year or early next year,” White said. “We’ll see how this whole thing plays out in September. No, (he doesn’t get the Nurmagomedov-Poirier winner), but it’ll shake a lot of things up, whoever wins that fight.”