“I see this fight happening,” White said Saturday while at UFC 210. “Conor wants it, and Floyd wants it. I’ve said many times Conor has done a lot. He’s stepped up for big fights for this company, and for me and for (former UFC CEO) Lorenzo (Fertitta). I can’t deny him this fight. … Conor is having a baby any day now, and after Conor has his baby, Conor and I are going to meet in New York.”
White said the fight is still “not close” to being official, but preliminary discussions are already underway, he said. Among the UFC, McGregor, Mayweather and his camp, a long list of hurdles remain. Details – from how the fight will be distributed to how and what the fighters are paid – must be ironed out, but White said those are solvable problems.
People close to Mayweather have already suggested how revenue would be shared, but White said any comments on that front shouldn’t be taken seriously – especially if it comes from the likes of Floyd Mayweather’s uncle, Jeff Mayweather, or promoter Bob Arum.
“What I would like to clarify is all the (expletive) about the 80/20 split (between the UFC and McGregor),” White said. “Jeff Mayweather? Come on Jeff. Me and Jeff go way back. Jeff, are you the spokesman now for (expletive) Team Mayweather? And Bob Arum? You piece of (expletive) – (expletive) you too. What do they know about this fight? Want to know what they know about this fight? Nothing. Believe me.
“We have had preliminary talks with Conor, and I’m in a good place with Conor, and we’re going to meet in New York when he has his baby.”