Conor McGregor isn’t just the kind of fighter Dana White would trust to headline the White House, he’s specifically the guy White is looking to slot at the top of the upcoming America 250 card.
White has been doing a ton of media interviews to promote this weekend’s massive Canelo vs. Crawford boxing superfight. But he’s also been fielding a ton of questions regarding a highly anticipated UFC event Donald Trump has requested be held on the White House’s South Lawn.
Every major UFC superstar (barring
one) has been clamoring to get on the card, including Jon Jones. But White has previously said the odds of “Bones” fighting there are ‘a billion to one,’ and now he’s having to explain to all these outside-the-MMA-bubble podcasters and sports media people why he’s not interested in taking the MMA GOAT up on his offer.
“He has made it very clear to me that this is what he wants to do,” White told Wade Plemmons. “But I need people on this card that I can count on. That no matter what happens, opponents get switched out or whatever happens, I need guys that I can absolutely count on that are gonna show up that night.”
“I’m not saying no to Jon Jones, and I respect the fact that he’s pushing this hard. But Jon Jones and I just had a deal that he pulled out of. So he’s not on the top of my list even though I say it all the time: he’s the greatest of all time. I still know that to be a fact. He’s not the greatest of all time guy you can count on, that you know for a 100% is gonna be solid and be there.”
“And say what you want about Conor McGregor, because people like to talk shit about that too, but he is that guy,” White continued. “He’s always been that guy. I’ve been in the room. I’ve been on the phone. Lots of people like to talk tough publicly but behind the scenes, it’s a whole another ballgame. When the shit hits the fan, who’s really willing to go out? Conor McGregor has always been that guy.”
While White has said in the past that he’s looking for a reliable McGregor-type to carry the White House card, people weren’t sure he actually intended to book McGregor for it. This time White explicitly answered a follow-up question about fighters on the card, confirming “The Notorious” was at the top of the list.
“I just said Conor McGregor!” he repeated.
