Dana White tells McGregor to give attention to MMA, neglect about boxing for now

FILE — Conor McGregor (L) greets UFC President Dana White throughout a press convention for UFC 229 at Park Theater at Park MGM on October 04, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor will problem UFC light-weight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov for his title at UFC 229 on October 06 at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas, Nevada. Isaac Brekken/Getty Photos/AFP

MANILA, Philippines—Conor McGregor is a person of many pursuits, however his UFC boss Dana White needs him to give attention to MMA for now.

In an ESPN interview, White mentioned that he needs McGregor to show his give attention to the Octagon, particularly with the rematch in opposition to Dustin Poirier looming.

White didn’t precisely forestall McGregor from venturing right into a boxing match in opposition to Manny Pacquiao, however he needed the Irish famous person to only put these heavier gloves on the shelf till 2022.

“A boxing match with any of those guys, that stuff’s all the time going to be there. You’re the best possible on this planet proper now in MMA and the timing is correct now,” mentioned White h/t MMAFighting.com. “Not getting any youthful. I’d like to see him go for it right here over the subsequent yr. If he needs to combat one in every of these boxing guys, try this subsequent yr. That combat’s all the time going to be there.”

McGregor has one skilled boxing combat beneath his belt, a loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2017, is within the talks of as soon as once more moving into the ring when his bout in opposition to Pacquiao is finally signed.

There’s additionally the prospect of preventing YouTuber Jake Paul that’s rumored to earn him an eight-figure paycheck.

Nonetheless, White would somewhat see McGregor within the Octagon and, doubtlessly, get one other crack at UFC light-weight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov if the Russian famous person comes out of retirement.

“The way in which that this child is correct now mentally, bodily, emotionally, I imply this child is on and able to combat,” mentioned White. “I’d like to see him centered on what he can do right here on the UFC. Whether or not it takes one other shot at that title in opposition to Khabib [Nurmagomedov] or combat for the title in opposition to someone else if Khabib retires and defend that title.

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