The internet had been ablaze with ongoing rumors of UFC superstar Conor McGregor ducking Justin Gaethje. A rumored fight between them has consistently made the news since 2020. Not just once, but five times is a rumored number. Well, UFC CEO Dana White came in to put a stop to the ongoing slander on his Irish superstar’s name.
Dana White recently sat down with the media for a talk during the ongoing Dana White’s Contender Series. During their discussion at the post-fight press conference, the UFC CEO dismissed the rumors about a McGregor-Gaethje matchup. This claim especially came from Gaethje’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, who has a heated beef with McGregor.
I don’t know if that’s true. I’ve said this many times and I’ll say it again, I mean, we actually have video footage of Lorenzo and I walking into his house… He just woke up, telling him the fight fell out, and he’s literally leaving going, ‘Well, I’m going to train, let me know who I’m fighting when I get back.’ We’ve never had those kind of issues with Conor McGregor.
Dana White at the DWCS post fight press conference
Ali Abdelaziz suggested that Conor McGregor had intentionally avoided five fight opportunities with the former interim champion. He called the Irish superstar “soft like a marshmallow.” Moreover, the manager asserted that the former UFC double champion feared the kind of damage Justin Gaethje would inflict on him in the octagon.
McGregor and Gaethje are both prominent figures in the UFC. Gaethje established himself as a top contender in the lightweight division after winning the interim title at UFC 249. Defeating Dustin Poirier last year was his career highlight. Nevertheless, he suffered a knockout defeat at UFC 300 and has not fought since. Meanwhile, McGregor continues making headlines for outside-the-cage antics.
Arsenal star speaks up after Conor McGregor’s controversial acts at the Champions League
Conor McGregor recently made a controversial appearance at Arsenal’s Champions League match against PSG. The UFC superstar had playfully sparred with star winger Bukayo Saka on the Emirates Stadium pitch. McGregor’s playful antics drew immediate concern from fans and media, who worried about the possibility of injury to one of Arsenal’s key players.
Fans strongly questioned why he was even on the pitch without proper authorization. Many called for banning McGregor from future Arsenal matches. However, Saka quickly reassured everyone that the situation had been misinterpreted. He took it to Instagram and clarified that it was just a ‘friendly spar’ and that no damage had been done.
🚨| @Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has come out to defend Conor McGregor, stating their interaction last week was “just a friendly spar” following reports suggesting the club were unhappy with McGregor’s antics post-match after the video below went viral across social media. pic.twitter.com/qxiPO54pbI
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) October 8, 2024
Despite Saka’s lighthearted response, the club launched an internal review to investigate the matter. It was later discovered that McGregor gained last-minute access through a hospitality box owned by a company with ties to celebrity events. Luckily, there were no immediate repercussions for McGregor. However, Arsenal has considered revising their matchday protocols to prevent similar situations.
