Las Vegas — No, Conor McGregor is not negotiating directly with the White House to fight on the UFC’s big Fourth of July celebration show next year, which coincides with America’s Semiquincentennial (250th birthday).
That’s per UFC President and CEO Dana White, who addressed the issue with Cageside Press following UFC 320 in Las Vegas on Saturday.
McGregor had gone on Fox News recently to announce his return at the UFC White House card as a “done deal,” but White revealed that no fights have been inked for the event, and won’t be for some time. He also dismissed the claim that McGregor was negotiating directly with the White House/Trump Administration.
“We’re still talking about the production, and how everything’s going to work at the White House. We have not started negotiating any fights for the White House yet,” replied White, who will have another Sphere-sized challenge with the logistics of a card on the White House lawn in Washington, D.C.. “That won’t even start til February.”
As far as McGregor, who has not fought since breaking his leg in the rubber match of his trilogy with Dustin Poirier years ago, “I’ve made it clear, Conor wants to fight on that card, and you can clearly see Conor is very fired up to fight on that card. But nothing is done yet, and no fights are being negotiated with the White House.”
In other words, expect to wait a fair bit longer before any UFC White House fight announcements, with or without Conor McGregor.
Dana White also addressed the death of Jon Jones’ brother Arthur, who passed away on Friday at age 39. Jones is no doubt grieving. “I’ve talked to him a few times,” confirmed White, who had nothing but positive things to say about Arthur Jones.
“He was such a great, such a great guy. When somebody passes away like that in their sleep, so young, not even 40 years old yet, it’s brutal. I think that conversations I’ve had with Jon, I think he’s handling it pretty well. These things are never easy.”
Arthur Jones reportedly had an underlying heart condition, and reports including transcripts from emergency responders noted that his implanted defibrillator “went off” on Friday morning. He was unresponsive when paramedics arrived.
