via Getty
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Conor McGregor (R) and UFC president Dana White (L) speak at the UFC 229 press conference at Radio City Music Hall on September 20, 2018 in New York City. McGregor will face UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event on October 6, 2018 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
via Getty
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Conor McGregor (R) and UFC president Dana White (L) speak at the UFC 229 press conference at Radio City Music Hall on September 20, 2018 in New York City. McGregor will face UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event on October 6, 2018 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The biggest pay-per-view draw in the UFC, Conor McGregor, makes his return at UFC 257 on Fight Island. Never has someone truly taken the UFC to new global heights like the Irishman has done in his time with the promotion. McGregor holds almost all the top UFC PPVs of all time, and the UFC always benefits every time he steps into the octagon.
via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NV – AUGUST 23: UFC President Dana White attends a news conference for the bout between boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor at the KA Theatre at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on August 23, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather and McGregor will meet in a super welterweight boxing match at T-Mobile Arena on August 26 in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
McGregor will headline the first pay-per-view for the promotion in the new year, just like he did in 2020. He returns after having only fought once in 2020, majorly due to COVID-19 and partly because of a falling out with the UFC president Dana White.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Read: “I Would Love To”- Max Holloway Wants to Rematch Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor and Dana White
The two have not always seen eye to eye in their business dealings in the promotion, but they have always had immense respect for each other. McGregor has been sitting down with MMA media ahead of his rematch with fellow lightweight contender Dustin Poirier.
When asked by the team from TheMacLife about his dealing with the UFC President leading up to McGregor accepting the fight, Conor said, “Me and Dana have always had an amazing relationship, you know, more than a fighter-promoter. I have a lot of respect for Dana. What he’s done in 2020 was nothing short of outstanding and I’ve commended him on that and I do commend him on that.”
High Pressure, High Stakes Business
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
‘The Notorious One’ did acknowledge the issues between him and White, but would explain that it was only business and not personal. McGregor continued, “There were pockets in the year where we were at loggerheads if you will, but you know this is a high pressure, high stakes business. When you’ve got an Irish man looking for a fight, you better give him one so or it maybe you that’s involved in the fight.”
via Getty
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 13: Conor McGregor speaks during the Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Conor McGregor World Press Tour event at Barclays Center on July 13, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
Conor said that’s all in the past and he’s only looking towards the future. He concluded, “All is good, we hashed it out, and we said our piece. We’re in a great spot now and I’m very excited to come back here for the company and kick-start it in a major way.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
McGregor believes that he is as focused as ever ahead of his fight with Dustin Poirier. Even UFC president Dana White has expressed his delight in the commitment levels the former champion has displayed. The winner of the fight will be the #1 contender for the UFC lightweight title depending on champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s future.
Read: ‘He Wants to Know Every Detail’- Dana White Says Conor McGregor Looks More Dangerous Than Ever
