Dana White: Conor McGregor-Floyd Mayweather promotion without UFC would be ‘epic fall’

Conor McGregor believes his next fight will happen in a boxing ring, preferably facing Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The first ever two-weight class UFC champion told a crowd at a speaking engagement in Manchester, England on Saturday that he expects to compete in a boxing ring next, not in the UFC’s Octagon.

UFC president Dana White, however, seemed to imply Saturday night after UFC on FOX 23 that if McGregor tried to go box Mayweather without UFC as the promoter, it would be a huge mistake.

“When you’re about to do a pay-per-view that you’re charging five bucks to listen to you talk, I’m sure you’ve got to say some pretty crazy s**t, alright?” White said at the UFC on FOX 23 post-fight news conference. “You know how I feel about Conor, I’ve always shown Conor nothing but respect, and if he wants to go down that road with us, let me tell you, it will be an epic fall.”

White also made it clear he’s not expecting the fight, which would have to clear numerous hurdles, to ever get made.

When asked if McGregor-Mayweather would happen, White says there’s about the same chance as White being named backup quarterback behind New England Patriots starter Tom Brady next week at Super Bowl LI.

“Will it happen?” White asked. “Here’s what I think the chances are: About the same as me being the backup quarterback for Brady on Sunday.”

White also said there have been no follow-up talks on White’s recent offer of $25 million for both Mayweather and McGregor to make the bout.

“He’s full of s**t,” White said of Mayweather. “He said he had made an offer, which wasn’t true. That was a real offer.”

McGregor posted an Instagram on Saturday before the Q&A with some harsh words for, well, just about everyone.

“F**k the UFC,” McGregor wrote. “F**k Floyd. F**k boxing. F**k the WWE. F**k Hollywood. And f**k you too pay me.”