Morning Report: Dana White on Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor: ‘I want to do this for Conor’

When any media member talks with UFC President Dana White for any amount of time, the topic of Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather eventually gets brought up, and this week is no different. As UFC 210 approaches, White has been doing the media rounds to promote the upcoming fight card, and in several different interviews, White was asked about the current status of the crossover superfight.

While speaking with The Chris Mannix Show yesterday, White said that he is now actively working towards making the fight happen because he wants to repay McGregor for all his work for the UFC.

“Conor McGregor’s having a baby right now. After his girlfriend delivers her baby, we’ll start working on this deal,” White said.

“I am [working on it]. The money that’s involved in this thing — listen, does it make a bunch of sense for my business? No. But Conor has been a guy who has stepped up in times of need here, in big fights when an opponent fell out, so I want to do this for Conor. I want him to be able to make this kind of money.

“I think we’re actually there [on terms with McGregor],” White added. “I think we’re in a good place. I just need to get together with him and finalize some stuff, and then it’s on to Mayweather. ”

White echoed the same sentiments when speaking on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, calling McGregor a “unicorn” and saying he feels he has to facilitate this fight.

“It’s a fight that people do want to see. It’s intriguing and obviously it’s a fight that Conor wants because financially it’s gonna be massive for him,” White said.

“McGregor is a guy that I have a lot of respect for. This guy has stepped up in times that people at his level would never step up. I’m the guy standing in the living room, I’m the guy on the phone when these guys are looking down the barrel of a new opponent a week before the fight and Conor McGregor doesn’t flinch. This kid steps up. He’ll fight anybody, anywhere, anytime. A lot of people say it, very few really mean it.

“Conor McGregor, I call him the unicorn. I’ve never really dealt with a kid like this. So for him to have this opportunity to make this kind of money and this type of a fight that people are so interested in worldwide, I almost feel like I have to make it.”

While unicorn is a fine descriptor, golden goose might be more accurate. The UFC had their most profitable year ever last year, thanks in large part to McGregor’s pay-per-view drawing ability. But despite McGregor’s importance to the company (or perhaps because of it), White had previously been very negative about the possibility to McGregor boxing Mayweather. However, as interest for the fight has mounted, White has become much more amenable to the proposition, telling Mannix that he believes the fight will happen this year.

However, other fighters shouldn’t start getting any ideas. Though dozens of other UFC fighters and boxers alike have thrown out hypothetical crossover superfights, when speaking with Russillo & Kanell, White made sure to say that this wasn’t going to open the floodgates on crossover fights for everyone in the UFC. White says that this fight is a one-time deal, specifically for McGregor.

“No, I don’t like the idea of it opening up a bunch of different crossover fights,” White said. “My guys saying they want to fight that guy and other boxers saying they want to fight this guy, no. This is gonna be a one-and-done.”

Jimi Manuwa must be so disappointed.

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MUST-READ STORIES

Stay ready. Kavanagh says Conor McGregor is already training for Floyd Mayweather.

Screwed. Gegard Mousasi believes he’s getting “screwed” by the UFC.

Guilty. Jason Miller pleads guilty to multiple crimes, avoids jail time.

Desperate. Daniel Cormier says Jon Jones looks “desperate” by coming to UFC 210.

Goals. Will Brooks believes he will be in the lightweight title picture by 2018.

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VIDEO STEW

Embedded 3.

Free fight.

TTTHS.

Conor getting help.

Lennox on MayGregor.

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LISTEN UP

Heavy Hands.

Press Row.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Rumble did a Q&A so follow the hashtag if you care.

No BS, that’s the happiest I’ve ever seen Bobby Law look.

And some more wrestling mark action.

Reebok getting involved in the backdrop game now.

DC’s got one supporter at least.

Mean words.

Mousasi.

Wow.

Twins.

Low key, Felice Herrig is a pretty funny Twitter follow.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ed Ruth (2-0) vs. Aaron Goodwine (1-0); Bellator 178, April 21.

Tyrell Fortune (2-0) vs. Branko Busick (0-0); Bellator 178, April 21.

Paulo Thiago (17-9) vs. Faycal Hucin (11-3); Fight 2 Night 2, April 28.

Eric Almeida (7-2) vs. Virna Jandiroba (10-0); Fight 2 Night 2, April 28.

Akihiro Gono (35-20-8) vs. Killys Mota (10-0); Fight 2 Night 2, April 28.

Jhonata Silva (4-1) vs. Victor Carvalho (3-0); Fight 2 Night 2, April 28.

Marina Alcalde (6-0) vs. Samara Santos (10-2-1); Fight 2 Night 2, April 28.

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TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2006: Stephan Bonnar won a unanimous decision over Keith Jardine in the main event of UFC Fight Night 4.

2012: Ben Askren won a unanimous decision over Douglas Lima to retain the Bellator welterweight championship at Bellator 64.

2013: Gegard Mousasi made his UFC debut, defeating Ilir Latifi by unanimous decision at UFC on Fuel TV 9.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

I wish we still had polls because despite this being the biggest event of the year so far and there not having been a UFC event for three weeks, this still feels lackluster. Is it just me or is anyone else not feeling the usual big event feel this week? Sound off in the comments below.

And that’s all folks. Conor bless and see y’all tomorrow.

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