JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Both UFC president Dana White and Conor McGregor want to do business together.
However, both men are struggling to wrap their heads around the collateral of holding an event during the coronavirus pandemic: the lack of a live gate.
Following the UFC 249 weigh-ins held Friday, White fielded 25 minutes worth of questions from a select group of media, including MMA Junkie. In the midst of a discussion about the UFC’s plan to normalize their upcoming schedule, White was asked if any fight was “too big” to hold without a live audience.
“Is there any level of fight that I wouldn’t give up the gate on?” White said. “It’s tough to give up on a Conor McGregor gate. It’s tough to do.”
White said he’s been in close contact with McGregor this week. According to White, McGregor wished him well on the upcoming events behind closed doors at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena but agreed that a lack of live gate will present obstacles for his return.
“I talked to (McGregor) yesterday, and he wants to fight,” White said. “He’s excited about tomorrow, too. He was like, ‘This is so awesome. Good luck tomorrow. I hope this goes off well.’ He doesn’t like the idea of fighting without a crowd, either, but he wants to fight. I don’t know. We’ll have to see how this thing plays out.
“You do a Conor McGregor fight in the right place, you can do an $18 million gate. That’s a big number to give up.”
McGregor most recently fought in January at UFC 246. The fight was supposed to kick off what McGregor said would be a very active calendar year for him.
Dana White: Conor McGregor's UFC return faces big hurdle during coronavirus pandemic