UFC president Dana White has shed some more light on his decision to pull Conor McGregor from UFC 200, and says José Aldo will fight Frankie Edgar for the Irishman's UFC featherweight belt if "he doesn't clean this up fast."
White also claimed it's not impossible that McGregor still fights Nate Diaz at UFC 200, but it appears as though the 27-year-old from Crumlin will be required to reach out to make it happen.
White was speaking to Colin Cowherd on Fox Sports 1's The Herd. You can watch it here -
Latest Dana White interview.
Talking about Conor McGregor, future of his belt and #UFC200 fight card.#MMA #UFChttps://t.co/kw42JAouFR— Corey Whyte (@CoreyWhyte_) April 20, 2016
MMAFighting.com have summarised the interview below:
White: Conor basically said he didn't want to come to Vegas.. tour was vegas, stockton, and new york.. He said he didn't want to do it.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) April 20, 2016
White: You can't make everyone happy.. One thing no one is exempt from is promoting their fights.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) April 20, 2016
White: Our relationship isn't damaged at all. Conor was making a lot of money for this fight... His fight isn't for three months.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) April 20, 2016
White: It's not a money issue.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) April 20, 2016
White: I do not think he [he is retiring].
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) April 20, 2016
White: Conor needs to clean this up fast or Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar are fighting for the vacant featherweight title.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) April 20, 2016
White: Yeah if he called me after this interview we would probably still do it. We're spending $10 million in promotion for #ufc200.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) April 20, 2016
White: It never got combative, and I was talking to his manager.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) April 20, 2016
White: Conor wasn't planning on delivering this weekend and I had to pull him. It's what had to be done.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) April 20, 2016
The UFC president's insinuations regarding stripping McGregor of his title came at the same point in the interview as the 'retirement' talk; White says the UFC need clarity as to whether or not McGregor does indeed plan to walk away.
If he does follow through with his supposed intentions to call it a day or, more pertinently, doesn't amend this current situation, Frankie Edgar will then fight José Aldo for a newly vacant belt.
