DANA WHITE has issued a defiant statement on the “conspiracy theories” surrounding the cancellation of Conor McGregor’s comeback fight.
The MMA superstar was due to make his long-awaited cage return later this month in the main event of UFC 303 in Las Vegas.
Conor McGregor was forced out of his UFC return against Michael Chandler due to injuryGETTY
But some conspiracy theorists have claimed he withdrew from the fight in order to strong-arm the UFC in their ongoing contract negotiationsREUTERS
UFC president Dana White has categorically denied those unfounded claimsGETTY
But the Irishman’s comeback clash with Michael Chandler was officially cancelled last week when it emerged he’d suffered an undisclosed injury in training.
Despite both the UFC brass and McGregor himself confirming the injury, there are sensational social media claims The Notorious isn’t compromised.
There are unfounded suggestions galore on social media that McGregor pulled out of the fight in a bid to strong-arm the UFC in their ongoing contract negotiations.
But that notion has well and truly been dismissed by White, who told Jim Rome: “I’ve said it many times before and I’ll say it again: Conor McGregor has never done that.
“Conor McGregor never leads up to a fight and tries to renegotiate a contract or get more money.
“He’s never said anything remotely close to that.
“He’s as solid as solid can be when it comes to being hurt right now.
“Conor McGregor is hurt right now. It’s [the injury] absolutely real.
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“He’s never done anything like that.”
SunSport understands the UFC are working around the clock to try and finalise a new date for the Return of the Mac.
August 31 is one of the frontrunners, although a September return is also on the cards.
But White has offered to book Chandler – who hasn’t fought since November 2021 – a different fight should he choose not to wait for McGregor.
He said: “I think poor Chandler wants to wait for Conor McGregor.
“But whatever he wants to do. If he wants to get a fight this summer, we’ll do whatever he wants.
“He’s one of the greatest athletes I’ve ever worked with.
“He’s a good human being.
“I like him a lot. Whatever he wants to do, we’ll figure out for him.”
Inside McGregor’s Notorious lifestyle
With more sides to his personality than an Octagon, Conor McGregor’s rise has been an enthralling watch.
Going from UFC icon to entrepreneur and Hollywood star, the Irishman has transcended the sport he helped bring to the masses.
He has four children with fiancee Dee Devlin and the family enjoy a lavish lifestyle.
McGregor has not fought in UFC since breaking his leg in a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021.
That has not stopped him amassing a net worth of over £150m thanks to his Proper No Twelve whiskey and fashion line.
And he is due to return to the Octagon at UFC 303 in an eagerly-awaited headline clash with Michael Chandler.
McGregor also starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the Amazon Prime remake of classic movie Road House, although he is dreading his mum seeing one X-rated scene.
Notorious turned up to the premiere in a £60,000 suit that was outdone by his £460k watch.
The only thing sharper than his fashion sense is his tongue and the Dubliner has several bitter spats under his belt, including with UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
That row led to one of his biggest controversies in 2018 as he travelled 3,000 miles to confront Khabib in a vicious attack on his bus.
He pleaded guilty to assault after punching a man in a pub in 2018 and had his £150k Bentley seized by police for driving offences four years later.
Joe Rogan lashed out at McGregor in a four-letter outburst and the Irishman has also fired shots at Jake Paul, KSI and Tommy Fury.
Boxing great Floyd Mayweather also has McGregor on his enemy list after the pair clashed in a cross-sport bout in 2017.
Read all of our latest Conor McGregor stories.
McGregor, 35, hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since breaking his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
And the former two-division champion was devastated to have been forced to withdraw from his long-awaited return fight.
He wrote on Instagram: “Very tough to be ruled out of my scheduled return bout.
“I picked up an injury prior to the press conference that required more time to heal than was available to me.
“The decision to postpone the fight was not made lightly, but one made in consultation with my doctors, the UFC, and my team.
“My fans and opponent deserve me at my best for this fight and we will get there!
“Thank you for the messages of support, I am in good spirits and confident I’ll be back!”