Eddie Hearn has simple answer to deliver Conor McGregor return as Dana White addressed contract dispute

Eddie Hearn has simple answer to deliver Conor McGregor return as Dana White addressed contract dispute

Watch now: GB News' sports round-up

Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 27/02/2024

- 20:06

Conor McGregor's return to the UFC is still not set in stone with Dana White not giving anything away yet.

Eddie Hearn has advised Dana White to offer Conor McGregor "whatever it costs" to get the Irishman back in the UFC as soon as possible.

It's been three years since McGregor last fought in the UFC when he lost to Dustin Poirier and suffered a leg injury.


He was expected to make a return to the Octagon last year when McGregor and Michael Chandler both coached on The Ultimate Fighter.

That was delayed due to McGregor no longer being in USADA's drug-testing pool, but the two-weight UFC champion announced at the end of December he was set to fight Chandler at middleweight in June.

Despite McGregor's claims, the UFC are still yet to confirm an official date for McGregor's long-awaited return.

Eddie Hearn wants Conor McGregor back in the UFC

Eddie Hearn wants Conor McGregor back in the UFC

GETTY

White has even raised doubts on whether McGregor is "ready" to make his return.

But Hearn believes a deal will eventually be done as he feels UFC can't afford to miss out on McGregor not being in the sport for much longer.

“I talk to Conor quite a bit and [I believe he wants to fight],” Hearn said on The MMA Hour.

“I still think he’s going to want the deal to be right. There comes a point where — sometimes you’ll do a show where you have to give them what they want, because it’s in the best interest of the sport and the business.

"Maybe I could make more money on a small show than I do promoting Canelo Alvarez, but what does it mean to my business?

"What does it mean to DAZN? What does it mean to my reputation with fighters and my opportunity to sign young Mexican fighters coming through?

“In many instances, you take a bath to deliver.

"If it was me — and it’s not me, and Dana certainly doesn’t need my advice — but I’m bringing McGregor back, whatever it costs.

"He injects an enthusiasm and a vibrancy into the UFC that no one else can.

"There is no one in the sport who can make it happen for the UFC and MMA like Conor McGregor.

"When he comes back, the press conferences, the build up, the value of the business, the ratings, the pay-per-view numbers [all go up].”

Conor McGregor is set to fight Michael Chandler

Conor McGregor is set to fight Michael Chandler

GETTY

It's been suggested that the delay to McGregor's return is down to a contract dispute.

However, White recently shut down the reports and paid tribute to the manner in which McGregor has done business in the past.

He said: "Conor McGregor has probably been one of the best business partners we've ever had.

LATEST SPORT NEWS:

Conor McGregor has been in training

Conor McGregor has been in training

GETTY

"Getting Conor to show up to s**t on time is a problem.

"But Conor, as far as the business goes, everybody talks about how Conor used to be on the dole and all this stuff.

"For a guy that was on the dole, Conor McGregor is a very good businessman, and Conor McGregor has always been a great partner to us.

"There's never any hanging out and haggling for money or, you know, 'You pay me more money'."

You may like