Dana White reveals date for Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler ‘isn’t guaranteed’ in worrying update on UFC mega-fight
DANA WHITE admits the UFC are a long way off finalising a date for Conor McGregor’s return.
The Notorious is set to throw down with former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler later this year after coaching season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter.
McGregor’s absence from the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s testing pool, however, has complicated matters.
The Irishman must be in the pool for a minimum of six months before he’s eligible to compete, meaning October is currently the earliest he can return.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, White said: “We’re still working on that and figuring that out.
“There’s a lot of work to do on the Conor fight still.”
Also up in the air is the weight class the pair will fight in, although SunSport understands Team McGregor are eager for the bout to be a welterweight affair.
UFC president White continued: “They’re going to fight.
“‘When’ isn’t guaranteed – when, what weight class, what are these guys doing.
“Conor’s filming this season of The Ultimate Fighter with Chandler, but Conor’s still coming back from that shin break.
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“There’s still a lot of questions and ifs, and we don’t have answers yet.”
Tensions rose between McGregor and Chandler, 34 and 36 respectively, during filming at the UFC Apex on Friday.
Reports claimed McGregor shoved the former lightweight title challenger before a melee ensued in the cage.
White alluded to the alleged incident during the UFC 285 post-fight press conference last Sunday, saying: “Chandler and Conor were very respectful to each other.
“And then some things started escalating that you will see on the show and they do not like each other now.
“I don’t look at stuff that’s good for the show or things like that.
“Whatever happens, happens. The stuff that just happened shouldn’t happen.
“I’m getting old boys, I’m getting old.
“I would have been in there sooner back in the old days, but yeah, not good.
“A lot of s*** went down on Friday.”