UFC President Dana White has responded to recent comments that were made by Showtime Sports' executive vice president Stephen Espinoza - regarding the potential cross-sports mega-fight between former five division world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and UFC superstar Conor McGregor.
During a recent interview with reporter Chris Mannix, Espinoza questioned whether or not the UFC was actually going to allow their biggest star to step in the boxing ring with Mayweather.
Mayweather, who retired in September 2015 after winning a decision over Andre Berto, is ready to return to the ring at age 40 - but only for a fight with McGregor.
Espinoza believes the organization is stalling the negotiations, because of their fear that McGregor will make so much money from the event that he'll never fight again in MMA.
“The biggest battle in Mayweather-Pacquiao was both guys really thinking that the other wanted to do it,” Espinoza said. “That part has happened [with McGregor and Mayweather], so I think the real question - and it’s sort of a black box right now - is where’s the UFC really, on this? Do they, in fact, want it?
"Dana - speaking on behalf of, I assume, the UFC - is making noises that he’s more open to it but talk is talk. I haven’t seen a lot of progress either internally in the deal between the two of them or externally, the deal between that side and this side. It’s largely at a standstill. There hasn’t been a ton of progress and I think if they don’t move relatively quickly, people may move on. People may tire of it.
"But it really is something that needs to happen this year or it probably won’t happen. Floyd’s on 18 months, two solid years come September since he’s fought. He’s still in great shape, but at a certain point, he’s not gonna do it after a while. I think part of the fear on the UFC’s side is that they’ll never see Conor again," he added. "If he makes 50, 60, 70 [million from a Mayweather fight] and then you never see him in the ring and he retires in Ireland and so much for their megastar.”
White spoke to TMZ Sports, and denied the claims being made by Espinoza.
"I saw a quote the other day from a guy from Showtime who said that I'm stalling the thing [Mayweather vs. McGregor] because I'm worried that McGregor will retire after this fight, which is completely false and not even close to being true," White stated.
"To get a deal like this done, this doesn't happen in a couple months. It's gonna be a tough deal to get done, if it gets done at all."