It looks like one of the biggest stars in the UFC is done fighting for 2020.
Conor McGregor retired earlier this year, but it’s not an unusual occurrence for McGregor to walk away and come back. The former featherweight and lightweight champion gave a hint on Twitter that he may come back and answer some of the challenges from other fighters, but not long afterwards, Dana White pumped the brakes on the talk of a return.
What did Dana White have to say?
White spoke to Barstool Sports and gave what sounds like a final decision on the matter.
“This year he is retired. He doesn’t have a fight this year and he won’t have a fight this year. Conor McGregor will not fight in 2020. I am not saying he won’t fight in 2021, but I am telling you we don’t have a fight planned for him in 2021. But I guarantee you he will not fight in 2020. Conor McGregor is retired,” White said.
This comes after Khamzat Chimaev, one of the rising fighters in the UFC, called out McGregor and prompted a fast reply. Chimaev is currently 8-0 and 2-0 in the UFC. He called McGregor out specifically after his first round TKO victory at UFC on ESPN 14.
Then again, Dana White is somewhat known for changing stances just as much as McGregor is. Fans have even compiled entire lists of all the times White has changed his positions, and the UFC would benefit financially from having another hyped up McGregor fight.
So it’s not all that unlikely that before end end of the year, White will change his mind and go with the more lucrative option of letting McGregor fight again in 2020. Even if his current status is ‘retired.’ With that being said, it might be a bit too early in Khamzat Chimaev’s career to match him up with as dangerous a fighter as McGregor.
The UFC might have a good rising talent on their hands, but let’s not forget an important fact: Chimaev has a lot of hype, but he’s still only 2-0 in the UFC and 8-0 overall.