Dana White: Conor McGregor Not an Option for GSP if He Decides to Return to UFC

Tristar Gym trainer Firas Zahabi recently said that it would take a ”big, exciting fight" to lure Georges St. Pierre back into the Octagon while hinting that one such potential bout could include UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor.

Not so fast, says UFC President Dana White.

"He ain't fighting Conor McGregor," White told ESPN.com. "If he wants to come back, [UFC welterweight champion] Tyron Woodley or [middleweight champion] Robert Whittaker is waiting for him. They're both waiting, if Georges wants to come back.”

Regarded as the greatest welterweight champion of all-time, St. Pierre returned from a four-year hiatus to capture the middleweight crown with a third-round submission of Michael Bisping at UFC 217 on Nov. 4. He then vacated the crown approximately one month later while revealing health issues due to ulcerative colitis. Interim 185-pound titlist Whittaker was installed as the undisputed champion and will defend the belt against Luke Rockhold in the UFC 221 main event.

Both St. Pierre and White confirmed that the fighter was contractually obligated to defend the middleweight title if he was victorious at UFC 217. However, White offered no update on the future of the Canadian star.

"There is no status," White told ESPN. "I knew what he was doing. That's why I put [a mandatory title defense] into his contract. We both knew what was going on. I don't know, man. I don't think the guy wants to fight. I think he jumped in, grabbed some cash and went back to Canada.”

Prior to facing Bisping, St. Pierre addressed the possibility of a fight with McGregor, saying it would be “an honor” to face the Irish star. However, “Rush” also said he doesn’t challenge opponents who compete in lower weight classes.

“He’s an amazing fighter and it would be an amazing honor,” St-Pierre told ESPN then. “I don’t know what to say. If the fans want it and he wants and whoever wants it, maybe it will happen.”