Dana White says McGregor vs. Mayweather will happen, blasts Jeff Mayweather and Bob Arum

BUFFALO, N.Y. – If anyone is still thinks a Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather boxing match is merely fantasy, it’s time for a change of perspective. According to UFC President Dana White, anyway.

All signs point to the match being made – and now it’s apparently just a matter of ironing out the details.

Talk of the McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) vs. Mayweather (49-0 boxing) matchup – previously thought to be downright laughable – has gained plenty traction over the past few months. All sides appear to be on board (to some extent, anyway), but a lot of ground sits between wanting the fight and actually making it. However, White said it’s just a matter of time.

Although Mayweather would be a gigantic favorite over the current UFC lightweight champion inside a boxing ring, White said he feels he owes it to “The Notorious” to fulfill his desire to fight one of the greatest boxers to ever put on a pair of gloves.

“I see this fight happening,” White said Saturday while at UFC 210. “Conor wants it, and Floyd wants it. I’ve said many times Conor has done a lot. He’s stepped up for big fights for this company, and for me and for (former UFC CEO) Lorenzo (Fertitta). I can’t deny him this fight. … Conor is having a baby any day now, and after Conor has his baby, Conor and I are going to meet in New York.”

White said the fight is still “not close” to being official, but preliminary discussions are already underway, he said. Among the UFC, McGregor, Mayweather and his camp, a long list of hurdles remain. Details – from how the fight will be distributed to how and what the fighters are paid – must be ironed out, but White said those are solvable problems.

People close to Mayweather have already suggested how revenue would be shared, but White said any comments on that front shouldn’t be taken seriously – especially if it comes from the likes of Floyd Mayweather’s uncle, Jeff Mayweather, or promoter Bob Arum.

“What I would like to clarify is all the (expletive) about the 80/20 split (between the UFC and McGregor),” White said. “Jeff Mayweather? Come on Jeff. Me and Jeff go way back. Jeff, are you the spokesman now for (expletive) Team Mayweather? And Bob Arum? You piece of (expletive) – (expletive) you too. What do they know about this fight? Want to know what they know about this fight? Nothing. Believe me.

“We have had preliminary talks with Conor, and I’m in a good place with Conor, and we’re going to meet in New York when he has his baby.”

Although reports have suggested a possible September date for the fight, White couldn’t confirm. Considering all the negotiating still ahead, the UFC boss said he doesn’t know when McGregor and Mayweather would share the ring.

“The thing is, the longer it takes for us to come to an agreement (with McGregor), I think the longer it’s going to take to negotiate with the Mayweather team,” White said. “Because I know all the talk of A-side, B-side and all this stuff.

“Listen, of course everything I say is going to come off biased because he’s my guy. But you guys judge. Is Conor McGregor not a massive star? And this fight here, Floyd doesn’t make this kind of money either without Conor. So Conor is just as important as Floyd when it comes to this fight. Not to mention the fact Conor’s stepping in and boxing him and not saying, ‘Hey, let’s fight in mixed martial arts.'”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.