Morning Report: Dana White still keen on Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor 2, but ‘I don’t know if Conor wants to wait’

MMAfighting.com

Earlier this year, Conor McGregor made his triumphant return to the Octagon after over a year off, knocking out Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds at UFC 246. Immediately after the fight, UFC President Dana White made it clear he believed the next fight that made sense for McGregor was a rematch with lightweight champion. The only problem with that is that Nurmagomedov already has a date with Tony Ferguson next month at UFC 249, and with the event drawing nearer, and neither fighter showing any signs of pulling out just yet, it seems that McGregor and White might both be making other arrangements.

Speaking with TMZ Sports recently, White revealed that though he’s still partial to a Khabib-Conor rematch, should Khabib defeat Ferguson, McGregor may not be willing to that long.

“Khabib if he wins,” White said. “But I don’t know if Conor wants to wait for him. We’ll see what happens. Conor might not wait.”

McGregor had previously said he intends to be quite active in 2020, targeting at least three fights. However, with Khabib set to fight on April 18th, should he win the earliest the lightweight champion would return is late summer or early fall, after the holy month of Ramadan. That would put McGregor out of action for eight or nine months, which would run counter to his own plans for this year. That may be why, last week, rumors began circulating of a potential lightweight clash between McGregor and human highlight reel, Justin Gaethje.

Though talks are said to be very preliminary at this point, there appears to be some fire for this smoke. Should McGregor face and defeat Gaethje, it would be hard to deny him another shot at the title, something Khabib has been outspoken about, saying that McGregor is not deserving of a rematch after the throttling he put no “Notorious” when they finally did fight and that he hand-picks opponents. It’s a claim that picked up steam when McGregor opted to fight Cerrone who was coming off of two losses, instead of other available contenders, and one that Dana White thinks is ridiculous.

“Conor McGregor does not handpick his opponents,” White stated. “Conor McGregor has fought anybody that we have asked him to fight and who has been available. I mean guys have pulled out on Conor two or three times, Conor literally went to the gym and said ‘Tell me who I am fighting.’”

Right now, it seems like Justin Gaethje may be the next name given to McGregor, setting up a potentially massive rematch at the end of 2020 – if only we could be so lucky.