Dana White: Floyd Mayweather deal would be for him to fight

When UFC president Dana White and Floyd Mayweather were spotted sitting next to each other at a Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Clippers game on Nov. 20, heads turned in the combat sports world.

Soon thereafter, White was asked about the conversation and subsequent social media posts that seemed to hint at an unknown something. In the media rounds for UFC on ESPN 7 in early December, White elected not to go in depth beyond saying the he talked business with Mayweather.

In a recent interview with ESPN, however, White delved a little deeper.

“We both started talking,” White said. “The easiest way to explain it to you is Floyd and I both feel that we add value to each other, and we’re going to figure something out.

“Some things have to play out, and then I’m going to start talking to (Mayweather’s promoter Al) Hayman maybe this summer and then I’ll have something for Floyd in the fall.”

What would this mean exactly? Mayweather and White collaborating as promoter-promoter? Fighter-promoter? Or something else? Apparently, the undefeated boxer is thinking about another fight.

“Compete,” White said. “The money is in Floyd competing.”

White isn’t fond of crossover fights. But when Mayweather-esque demand is there, White said he’s willing to put overlook any hesitation.

“We’ll see,” White said. “We can do some crossover stuff here, or we can do something in boxing. Our last experience, Floyd was actually pretty easy to deal with. Haymon is incredible to deal with. Floyd and I got a handshake deal at the basketball game, and we’ll get the rest figured out.”

He continued, “I don’t love them (crossover fights). … (But) when the demand is there. I felt the demand for McGregor vs. Mayweather, felt it, I knew it would be big, so we started talking. Then once I started to really feel it, that’s when I started to take it serious, and I made an offer. … It will be interesting to see if we start to see that kind of demand again with any kind of crossover fight.”