CONOR MCGREGOR has been linked with a shock inaugural title fight at UFC 300 – but Dana White shut down the prospect of it coming to fruition years ago.
The promotion’s 300th pay-per-view event – which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 13 – is currently without a main event.
5UFC 300 is currently still without a main eventCredit: UFC
5Rumours of Conor McGregor fighting Michael Chandler for a 165lbs title continue to swirlCredit: X@THENOTORIOUSMMA
5UFC president and CEO Dana White has already made his thoughts on a super-lightweight division clearCredit: GETTY
Rumours of McGregor’s long-overdue showdown with Michael Chandler being a late addition to the card have begun to swirl in the last few weeks.
And it’s been stunningly claimed that the fight would kickstart a new 165lbs division, with a title being on the line.
The prospect of the UFC brass introducing a super-lightweight division, however, is something President and CEO White is not keen on.
In fact, White shot down the notion of the promotion ever introducing the weight class in 2018.
The veteran promoter said: “It just doesn’t make sense, never even considered it.
“If you make 165lb, you’re gonna start pulling people from the 170lb division.
“You’re going to see a lot of people from 170lb and 155lb that couldn’t win a title jumping to 165lb to try to fight for a title there.”
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Should White have a change of heart and decide to introduce a super-lightweight division, former light-heavy and heavyweight king Daniel Cormier insists McGregor has to be one-half of the inaugural title fight.
During a recent episode of his DC & RC Show, he said: “Somebody said the UFC was looking to add 165lb and move 170lb to 175lb because they want McGregor vs Chandler at the 165lb world title fight.
“If you do, though, it has to be Conor. If you do 165lb, it has to be Conor.
“You are introducing a new weight class, it has to mean something.
“You can’t have two normal fighters introducing the weight.”
McGregor, 35, hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since breaking his left leg in his Las Vegas trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
The Irishman was fighting fit and raring to go late last year, so much so that he issued an emotional plea to the UFC brass to have him headline their upcoming historic show.
He said: “I’ve been kept from my living for almost three years now.
“Understand that. I came through what I came through. I’m sitting on an injury and a loss.
“You hear what Alexander Volkanovski said? I relate. I must return to my way of living.
“This is my job. It’s beyond frustrating. … I just want the date. Give me the date, please. That’s it.”
5Conor McGregor hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since breaking his leg in July 2021
