Dana White is the public face of the UFC and a savvy businessman. But he often finds himself in the spotlight, much like his fighters. One dimension of this dynamic is his relationship with the Paul brothers. Whether it’s the UFC’s collaboration with Logan Paul to make Prime the official hydration sponsor of the promotion or his back-and-forth with Jake Paul on social media. White’s love-hate relationship with the boxing world continues to play out.

Additionally, Conor McGregor recently softened his stance on influencer boxers, even praising their approach. The shift in perspective seems to stem from the significant payouts these fighters are securing. This has come with his rumored boxing exhibition against Logan Paul where the prize money for the fight was reportedly a staggering $250 million, split between both fighters. Speaking to The Schmo, McGregor explained, “I like it. Like I said, I am more inclined now for this influencer f–ing whatever you call it because it’s astronomical money, Schmo.”

It is safe to say that the UFC head honcho does not agree with this statement. Answering a question from MMA journalist Kevin Iole back in October 2024, White went on a tirade, criticizing boxing for setting what he sees as exaggerated standards regarding fighter pay. When Iole asked him about the perception that MMA fighters earn more after moving to box, White didn’t mince words: “That’s the bullsh-t publicly that people believe, but that’s not the truth… boxing don’t work… It is the most fed-up business, and all these sound bites are all so full of sht that it makes everybody fing believe that that sh-t is true when it’s not,” he said.

White firmly believes that the boxing business model is fundamentally flawed, even though boxers often earn significantly more than UFC fighters. Fighter pay has long been a contentious issue within the UFC, with fans frequently criticizing Dana White for allegedly underpaying athletes despite the organization generating billions in revenue.

This disparity in earnings is one reason many UFC fighters transition to boxing or other promotions later in their careers. Consider Francis Ngannou, who moved on to venture into boxing for lucrative paydays and then did the same by signing with PFL. What’s even more intriguing? White might have something in the works for Conor McGregor in the UFC very soon, suggesting that ‘The Notorious’ could make a return to the Octagon.

Conor McGregor blames the UFC for the Logan Paul fight fallout

The highly anticipated clash between Conor McGregor and Logan Paul, which promised a massive payday for both fighters, now seems to be in jeopardy. After initially sharing a heartwarming bond, tensions flared as McGregor threatened to slap the Paul brothers. In response, Logan Paul claimed that McGregor had been ‘changed’ by his UFC contract, leading to the fallout.

In a candid conversation with The Schmo, McGregor revealed that the UFC was firmly against the idea of him fighting outside its promotion. “You know, it is what it is. The UFC just isn’t into it. I had the offer; it was there on the table in writing,” McGregor shared. He further explained, “A new market in India has opened up and is booming. It was business-savvy and made business sense to make the fight happen—or should I say, the glorified spar happen. And in between this wait, this waiting period, the UFC is not into it. I’m not sure about WWE, or what their interest is in it. I just know the UFC weren’t into it.”

Meanwhile, White hinted at McGregor’s potential return to the Octagon later this year. In a recent episode of Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take, Dana White stated, “Hopefully, Conor McGregor returns in the fall of this year.” With just two more fights left on his UFC contract, the former dual-weight champion will soon have the freedom to fight anywhere in the world. The question remains: will McGregor fulfill his remaining UFC obligations, make a move to BKFC, or choose the path of a free agent? Share your thoughts in the comments below!