DANA WHITE has given an incredible update on Conor McGregor’s return to UFC – but written off the prospect of a fight in 2020.
The UFC chief has revealed, in no uncertain terms, Notorious will NOT fight this year and doesn't have anything lined up for next year.
White went on to say he's doesn't believe McGregor is retired for good – having called it quits three times in four years now.
And he revealed he won't waste his time thinking about the Irishman, either, with so many current fighters to watch over.
White told podcast My Mom's Basement: “This year, he’s retired.
“He doesn’t have a fight this year, and he won’t have a fight this year.
"Conor McGregor will not fight in 2020.
“I’m not saying he won’t fight in 2021, but I’m telling you we don’t have a fight planned for him in 2021.
"But I guarantee you he will not fight in 2020.
"Conor McGregor is retired.”
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White – who called the days in the build-up to UFC Vegas 5 the "craziest f***ing week ever"- continued: “Do we all believe he’ll stay retired?
“I think most of us don’t believe that he’ll remain retired, but let me put it to you this way: I owe fighters that are under contract with me three fights a year.
"If I don’t deliver those three fights a year, I have to pay them.
"Conor McGregor is retired, whether people want to believe it or not.
“He is not fighting right now, so when he’s not fighting, I don’t even think about him or what he’s doing or any of that stuff on a business level.
"I’ll still shoot him a text personally, but on a business level, he’s out of the mix.
"He’s not fighting at all.
"So everybody keeps asking questions about him, and I’m like, ‘Manny Pacquiao? What the f*** are you talking about?”
McGregor has been linked with fights with boxing legend Pacquiao and MMA star Khamzat Chimaev after a series of cryptic "I accept" tweets, one in English and one in Pacman's native Tagalog.
But White scoffed at the rumours, saying McGregor is "playing everyone like a fiddle".
He continued his rant: "Guys keep asking me about Conor McGregor, who is retired.
“Conor plays you guys like fiddles, man. You guys are like puppets on a string. He’s retired.
“He sends one tweet that says ‘I accept,’ and it’s right after Khamzat calls him out and two other guys.
"I’m not focused on anything with anybody who’s not fighting. Conor McGregor is retired.”
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