Can Dana White Be the One to Save Conor McGregor’s UFC Career in 2025? Here’s How

The recent verdict by the Dublin High Court has really turned Conor McGregor’s life upside down. Since being compelled to pay a substantial sum of more than $250,000 to the plaintiff Nikita Hand, ‘The Notorious’ is losing even more money as a result of multiple businesses cutting connections with him in the aftermath of the claims. As if injuries and other commitments weren’t enough to keep the Irishman away from the Octagon, this is yet another setback that may delay his comeback to the UFC.

With such a major hit to his reputation as well as finances, McGregor truly needs a helping hand. So, chances are that the UFC head honcho may come out to help out one of his favorite fighters. McGregor has been one of the biggest cash cows for the UFC; now it’s time for White to return the favor. So here are some ways in which the UFC boss can save Conor McGregor’s career in 2025.

Fight against Chandler

A few days ago, UFC co-creator Campbell McLaren revealed that the Dana White-led promotion will continue its association with Conor McGregor. The reason? First, the Irishman was found liable in a civil case, not guilty in a criminal case, and the second is McGregor’s popularity as a fighter. He wrote on X, “Snarky dear, that is a tough one. He’s not criminally guilty. It’s easy to say I would not book him, but he is one of the biggest draws in our sport. Folks don’t blast me for being honest.” The Irishman is the sport’s biggest celebrity, capable of selling large quantities of pay-per-views and tickets. So the UFC will stick with ‘The Notorious.’

So what better way to bring him back than giving fans the fight they had been longing for? Despite it being booked and canceled time and again because of the Irishman, Michael Chandler is still interested in the fight as revealed through his fiery callout at UFC 309. “Conor, come back and beat me if you can.” So getting fans the fight they want can be a brilliant move by Dana White to make Conor McGregor a fan favorite again.

While Michael Chandler, in a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, said that he was unfamiliar with the legal issues surrounding McGregor, he is confident that McGregor would hit the gym for a fight. And when he does return, he wants to be the opponent. “And why not fight me? Why not be training to fight me in middle of the next year, International Fight Week, before that? As soon as possible! I’m ready to get back into training camp right after January 1st. And we can make that fight happen ASAP.”

A Fight against Nate Diaz

Back in October, Nate Diaz expressed his intention to secure a fight against Conor McGregor. Taking to his Twitter, he revealed his plans of fighting Terence Crawford and then the Irishman, as he wrote, “I box Crawford and fight Conor next 168 lfg.” After all, Nate Diaz is on a high following his boxing victory over former MMA opponent Jorge Masvidal earlier this July. So booking McGregor to face Diaz for the third time can prove to be an amazing tactic by the UFC head honcho, especially considering that it will be the third fight in a possible blockbuster trilogy.

Most UFC fans are aware of the intense animosity that existed between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz in the mid-2010s. The pair faced off twice, and their fights were both among the highest-grossing in UFC history. As a result, McGregor has been teasing a trilogy bout with Diaz, a sentiment that has now been reciprocated by his opponent. To make matters more convincing, McGregor needs a big-money fight that will bring him back into the limelight, something that Dana White will most likely try his best to do. So it is a viable option that the head honcho might go for. If not, then there is a last resort for the UFC head honcho, and ‘The Notorious’ and it doesn’t involve MMA.

Boxing fight against Jake Paul/Manny Pacquiao

The 2017 bout between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather was one of, if not the biggest fight in combat sports history. The fight was so big that, despite McGregor losing the bout, he ultimately won banking over $100 million. As a result, there is no reason why he cannot repeat another financially successful appearance within the squared circle. McGregor has expressed a desire to meet Manny Pacquiao in the ring. The Irishman believes it will be as intense as his bout with Mayweather. Furthermore, the former UFC double champion looks to have enjoyed the influencer boxing scene. Following the fight between Nate Diaz and Jake Paul, McGregor expressed an interest in boxing against the YouTube star’s adversary, KSI.

But now that Jake Paul has made major money after the boxing bout against Mike Tyson broadcasted by Netflix, Dana White, and ‘Mystic Mac’ could view ‘The Problem Child’ as the bigger opportunity and ask him to be McGregor’s next opponent instead. This possible bout could definitely help ‘The Notorious’ earn back a major chunk of money that he lost as a result of the legal battle. Furthermore, this bout has the potential to have fireworks, in terms of thrash talk. The stage has already been set as well, with Jake Paul earlier calling out McGregor by stating that he was smaller and slower than Anderson Silva. This led the Irishman to respond with, “Jake Paul is the biggest p—bag I have ever seen in my life.”

Always looking for an opportunity, the YouTuber-turned-boxer then called out McGregor for a fight. He wrote on X, “I said, ‘OK Conor, after I f–k up Mike Perry, then you’re next. So Conor’s on Twitter all the time. He’s on his yacht all the time. Guess where he’s not? In the ring,  fighting me.”

The road back to fighting is a long and winding one for Conor McGregor, but not without opportunities. With the backing of Dana White and the might of the UFC, ‘The Notorious’ could very find himself in the biggest return by an athlete to fighting. However, the Irishman will have to ‘get his house in order’, as stated by Michael Chander, and move past this latest legal trouble he found himself in, before the dust settles and everyone’s ready to see him fight again.

On that note, what do you think? Will Dana White be able to save Conor McGregor? Let us know in the comments.