Dana White: Conor McGregor Might Not Want to Wait to Fight Khabib Nurmagomedov

If it were up to Dana White, Conor McGregor’s next fight would be against Khabib Nurmagomedov, provided the lightweight champion is victorious at UFC 249.

Nurmagomedov is slated to defend his belt against Tony Ferguson on April 18 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. While McGregor is apparently open to stepping in as a replacement if either fighter gets hurt before that date, waiting on the winner might not be an ideal scenario for the Irishman if that opportunity doesn’t arise.

“Khabib if he wins [at UFC 249],” White recently told TMZ Sports of McGregor’s next opponent. “But I don’t know if Conor wants to wait for him. We’ll see what happens. Conor might not wait.”

If Nurmagomedov defeats Ferguson, The “Notorious” one could be on the sidelines until late summer or early fall waiting for the rematch. After he stopped Donald Cerrone in his long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC 246, McGregor outlined a plan in which he would ideally fight three times in 2020. In recent weeks, McGregor has been linked to a potential fight with Justin Gaethje, but that is only speculation at this point.

There’s also the question of Nurmagomedov’s interest in a rematch. In a recent interview, “The Eagle” claimed that McGregor picked Cerrone for his first fight since October 2018, a notion which White disputes.

“First of all, Conor McGregor does not handpick his opponents,” White said. “Conor McGregor has fought anybody that we have asked him to fight and who has been available. I mean guys have pulled out on Conor two or three times, Conor literally went to the gym and said ‘Tell me who I am fighting.’”

Of course, plenty of animosity remains between the two lightweight stars, so White wouldn’t expect Nurmagomedov to give McGregor a glowing review for his latest Octagon triumph.

“They hate each other,” White said. “If you think you’re going to do an interview with Khabib and he’s going to say great things about Conor McGregor, it’s never going to happen. If you interview Conor McGregor, he’s never going to say great things about Khabib. They hate each other.