UFC boss wants Conor McGregor back in MMA: 'What's the point' of Floyd Mayweather rematch?

LAS VEGAS – Even if Conor McGregor pulls off an upset and beats Floyd Mayweather in their boxing match later this month, what’s the point of a rematch, Dana White wonders.

“What’s the point?” White told MMAjunkie and other reporters during a small media scrum on Tuesday. ” … What’s the point if Conor beats him – to do it again?”

McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC), the reigning UFC lightweight champion, crosses over on Aug. 26, when he meets undefeated boxing legend Mayweather (49-0 boxing) in a boxing pay-per-view blockbuster at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

It’s supposed to be a one-off, one-night MMA-vs.-boxing spectacle – with massive potential paydays for all involved. Mayweather is approximately a 6-1 favorite (though he arguably should be a much bigger one), though there’s no contractual obligation to grant a rematch if McGregor pulls off the upset.

“I guess, if that happened, we’d talk about it, but there’s no rematch clause in there,” White said. “I’m ready for Conor to get back to MMA.”

And what’s he coming back? Likely a fight with Tony Ferguson (23-3 MMA, 13-1 UFC), who’s No. 3 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, or No. 8 Kevin Lee (16-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC), who are now slated to fight for an interim title at UFC 216 on Oct. 7.

No. 1-ranked McGregor is expected to face the winner, but White said McGregor is still entertaining the idea of future boxing bouts (watch the full scrum).

“We’ll see,” White said. “When you deal with Conor, I’ll take it day-by-day.”

While an embarrassing loss to Mayweather could force the Irish superstar back to MMA on a permanent basis, White said he hopes McGregor pulls off the upset.

“Conor’s going to get in there and rough him up – probably fight him a lot like (Marcos Maidana did in 2014),” he said. ” … I stopped doubting the kid a long time ago, and I’m hoping for this knockout. I’m hoping for him to knock Floyd out.”

For more on “The Money Fight: Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor,” check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.