DANA WHITE admits he doesn’t know when Conor McGregor will be ready to make his octagon return.
McGregor’s eagerly-anticipated comeback fight against Michael Chandler seemed a dead cert to headline UFC 300 in April after the promotion shelved tentative plans for a December return for the Irishman.
The Notorious’ grand announcement of a June return on New Year’s Eve was recently shot down by White, who claimed an autumn comeback was on the cards.
But White has now cast further doubt on the Irishman’s comeback, telling Kevin Iole: “Only Conor knows [when he’s ready].
“These are questions for Conor McGregor, not me. I know he’s training. I don’t know what level of training he’s doing.”
McGregor, 35, hasn’t fought since breaking his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier nearly three years ago.
The former simultaneous two-division champion underwent a painstaking rehab to get himself fighting fit and is back sparring, although White is in the dark over the intensity of his kicking with his once-snapped leg.
He admitted: “I don’t know what level of kicking he’s doing right now. I don’t know any of that stuff.
“I need to know the guy’s in a full camp and he’s ready to go. Conor McGregor has a movie coming out.
“He’s got businesses that he’s built. It’s a completely different dynamic when you’re dealing with a guy that has this kind of money.”
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On the Dubliner’s leg break, he added: “He is coming back from one of the nastiest injuries you can come back from.
“How long was Anderson Silva out when he did it? How long was Chris Weidman out when he did it?
“The guys who break that bone [are out a long time], so that’s an issue right there, No. 1.”
McGregor’s millions in the bank have long made MMA fans wonder about his motivation for fighting.
And White has once again claimed the promotion’s poster boy no longer needs to grace the octagon.
The veteran promoter said: “Conor McGregor doesn’t need the f***king money.
“So when you don’t need the money, it’s not as easy.
“Khabib [Nurmagomedov] doesn’t need the money – Khabib retired.”
