Last month at UFC Gdansk, UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor found himself in a bit of hot water when he was caught repeatedly using a homophobic slur while consoling his training partner Artem Lobov. A week later, McGregor went on the Irish television show The Late Late Show and apologized for the incident, saying that he meant no disrespect, but it wasn’t the last time the UFC had this issue.

Yesterday, TMZ Sports caught up with UFC President Dana White and asked him about McGregor’s homophobic slur and how the UFC intended to handle the situation. White addressed the situation and was quick to note that McGregor isn’t the only one the UFC has had this issue with.

"We've had a problem with that lately. It's been more than him, we've had a problem with that. It's a thing you have to educate people on and I've had my history with it myself. So it's definitely a problem, and it's something we need to focus on."

White is correct that this is not merely a McGregor problem. Just this week, welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal was caught using the same slur during a confrontation with middleweight champion Michael Bisping ahead of UFC 217. For a multibillion dollar corporation with numerous homosexual fighters on their roster, such incidents are going to be increasingly problematic occurrences but White notes, aside from apologizing he doesn’t believe there isn’t much more that can be done.

"What else is he gonna do? If you apologize and that's not enough, what else can you do, you know what I mean? You can donate money, you can. . . whatever. I don't know."

McGregor has previously put his loquaciousness to good use for the LGTBQ community, urging the Irish people to vote for same sex marriage in 2015.

As far as what’s next for McGregor, White says things are returning to business as usual for the UFC and their transcendent star, with the UFC hoping to have him fight again before the end of the year, even with McGregor’s wishes to be treated as a partner going forward.

“We’re planning on [McGregor fighting in 2017]. He wants to and we want him to so we’ll see what happens.

“The kid wants some money, the kids wants some stuff, [but] if there’s anybody out there that’s worth it, it’s Conor McGregor. We’ve always figured it out with him and we’ll figure it out again.”

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VIDEO STEW

Embedded 4.

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BJJ Scout on the main and co-main events.

Joanna on TMZ.

TTTHS returns.

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LISTEN UP

The MMA Beat. UFC 217, Conor’s promoter demands, and Colby Covington are debated.

Talking Brawls. Discussing UFC 217 and the Notorious film.

Before the Battle. In depth analysis of every fight at UFC 217.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

The much discussed video which seems even less damning than the Paulie sparring footage.

Cody gets bodied in every trash talk battle.

At this point, I’d be surprised if Nate got the fight.

Beef.

Johny did it early.

Jim Walhead statement.

Derrick Lewis with the best sponsorship.

Ngannou.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Markus Perez (9-0) vs. Eryk Anders (9-0); UFC Fresno, Dec. 9.

Islam Makhachev (14-1) vs. Gleison Tibau (32-12); UFC 220, Jan. 20.

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TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2001: Wanderlei Silva won the Pride middleweight title when he beat Kazushi Sakuraba at Pride 17 by doctor’s stoppage. The fight was stopped after Sakuraba broke a collarbone when he was slammed by Silva.

Also that evening, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira won the Pride heavyweight title after taking a decision off of Heath Herring.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

It’s finally here! The weekend the UFC has been building their entire Fall schedule around has finally come around and three title fights are in the waiting. UFC 217 is a damn good card so I hope you all enjoy the fights see y’all on Monday.

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EXIT POLL

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