White on McGregor vs. Mayweather: We will see, I don’t know

Back in May it was announced that negotiations were underway for Conor McGregor to box the greatest boxer of his generation, Floyd Mayweather. The discussion continued with fits and starts right up to the present.

On the eve of UFC 205, UFC president Dana White appeared on The Jim Rome Show. White shared an interesting story. The night before, White was out to dinner and ran into rapper, actor, and investor 50 Cent (real name Curtis Jackson).

Back in 2012 Jackson and Mayweather became partners in a new company, TMT (The Money Team), that aimed to challenge the box-office dominance of the UFC. Little came of it in the MMA space, but it establishes that Jackson has a professional interest in and understanding of combat sports. And Jackson is adamant that Mayweather still wants to fight McGregor.

50 cent is in the other room. He and I start talking last night,” said White, as transcribed by JimRome.com. “He’s like, ‘What’s up with your boy? Is he going to fight Floyd?’ I’m like, ‘My boy, who Conor?’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah.’ I’m like ‘Floyd’s never going to take that.’ He’s like ‘Dana, Floyd wants that fight. Floyd will take that fight.’ I said I’ll tell you what, you tell Floyd to call me, and if he’s serious about this, give me a call.So he walked out and got on the phone and called Floyd, and he got on the phone with him when he was leaving, so I haven’t heard anything from either one of them today, but you know I don’t know how that negotiation goes.

So he walked out and got on the phone and called Floyd, and he got on the phone with him when he was leaving, so I haven’t heard anything from either one of them today, but you know I don’t know how that negotiation goes.

But I’ve been saying it all along, look at how long it took for Pacquiao-Mayweather to happen. You know what I mean? And they’re in the same sport.

White told Rome he was not certain about what rules a McGregor vs. Mayweather fight would take place under.

It would be completely unfair to do grappling or go to the ground or do any of that stuff,” said White. “It makes no sense for Floyd. Plus, we could start at kicks, punches and elbows. We can’t do straight boxing or we can’t do straight MMA. Or Joe Rogan said let him box him and fight him in MMA.

This question use to drive me crazy. I would hate when people would ask me about Floyd and Conor, and then last night that happened. I don’t know. So we will see, I don’t know.”