Dana White makes opinion clear on Conor McGregor and Dan Hooker potentially throwing down next year: "I like that fight"
Dana White has expressed his interest in a potential clash between Conor McGregor and Dan Hooker, although no official discussions have occurred.
The Irishman, who hasn’t competed since suffering a broken tibia during his 2021 fight against Dustin Poirier, revealed that he might face Hooker in Saudi Arabia next year. This would mark his highly anticipated return to the octagon after his original bout with Michael Chandler was canceled due to injury.
During the press conference following the latest episode of 'Dana White's Contender Series,' the UFC CEO was asked about the possibility of the matchup coming to fruition. White responded positively, saying:
“That would be a great fight. I like that fight.”
Hooker, coming off a split decision victory over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305, has been campaigning for a fight against McGregor. With 'The Hangman' on a three-fight win streak and Chandler set to fight Charles Oliveira at UFC 309, the matchup is generating significant interest among fans.
Dana White weighs in on Donald Cerrone's potential return to the octagon
In the same press conference, Dana White also weighed in on Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone's possible return to the octagon, expressing concerns over the 41-year-old's decision to come out of retirement.
Cerrone, who retired in 2022, hinted at a comeback in a social media post where he shared a training video and stated his goal to reach 50 combined fights in the UFC and WEC. He mentioned undergoing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and a rigorous training regime, signaling his readiness to fight again.
However, speaking to the media, White made it clear that he wasn't thrilled with the idea, emphasizing that Cerrone has nothing left to prove in the sport:
''I hate it. Love him [Cerrone], hate that. He retired, it's just for what? What's left to prove? It's just there's nothing left to prove for him... If it's about money, he can do something else. Cause he ain't gonna fight for the rest of his life, he's always gonna need to make money. So let's figure that out now instead of three years from now.''
Check out Dana White's comments below (18:48):