The word of the UFC’s biggest star isn’t enough to sway promotion president Dana White.
White on Thursday said he won’t abide Conor McGregor’s recent order to make a fight with Frankie Edgar, arguing the former lightweight champ hasn’t earned the opportunity.
Not only that, White told the Boston Herald, but Edgar’s recent decision to move to the bantamweight division ruled him out.
“That Frankie Edgar isn’t going to happen,” White said. “Frankie is two weight classes below him. (Edgar) is in a position; he was supposed to fight Aljamain Sterling, and Aljamain fell out and got hurt.
“Frankie’s coming to the end of his career, and he could end up getting himself into a title position again. So to take the Conor fight makes no sense.”
McGregor, whose return to the UFC in July was delayed by a broken hand, popped up on Twitter on Wednesday to issue his latest fight proclamation. He called out White to “make the bout” in response to an exchange with Edgar, who told his fellow ex-champ he’d already agreed to take the fight.
The pair once were targeted to fight after McGregor won the featherweight belt from Jose Aldo. But instead, McGregor moved to the lightweight division, and his history-making win set them on different paths.
Edgar signaled his move to 135 pounds after a heartbreaking setback against featherweight champ Max Holloway in his most recent attempt to capture UFC gold. He was indeed scheduled to take on Sterling at UFC 244 next month, but a wrist injury to “Funkmaster” ruled out the opportunity.
It’s not the first time McGregor’s demands have been denied by White. But the UFC president said the star will still return to the octagon.
“I think Conor will fight next year,” White said.
Source: MMAfighting.com
