Dana White gives updates on Conor McGregor, Islam Makhachev's next fights after UFC Seattle

· Yahoo Sports

SEATTLE — Following UFC Seattle, UFC CEO Dana White offered the latest hints around some of the sport's biggest returns. With the road to the UFC's White House event ahead, many are waiting for announcements regarding both welterweight champion Islam Makhachev and Conor McGregor.

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Speaking at Saturday's post-fight press conference, White first addressed Makhachev's return, clarifying recent chatter that had begun to gain steam.

"[His manager] Ali [Abdelaziz] was out there talking and saying July. It's August that we're looking at," White said of the reigning UFC welterweight champion and pound-for-pound king.

With Makhachev establishing himself atop the 170-pound division, his next appearance carries significant weight, marking the first defense of the former lightweight champ's new reign and potentially adding to his already impressive résumé. In contrast to Abdelaziz's claim, White’s timeline pushes things back slightly, giving the promotion more time to finalize plans for one of its most dominant champions.

As always, however, dates are only part of the equation. Opponent and location remain important as well — and for now, those details remain up in the air, with welterweight contenders like Ian Machado Garry pleading for the call.

Then there’s another UFC Irishman: McGregor.

The former two-division champion hasn’t fought since 2021, yet his presence continues to loom large over the sport. Rumblings of a July return for McGregor have persisted for months, and White while didn’t shut the door on that possibility, he made it clear the situation remains fluid.

"Possibly. Nothing's done, nothing's even remotely close to being done," White said of a McGregor return.

"I am [optimistic he'll fight]. I was pretty optimistic at the end of last year. End of last year, going into this year, I'm still confident."

It’s a familiar tone from White when it comes to McGregor: Cautious optimism paired with a heavy dose of uncertainty. Injuries, scheduling hurdles and the sheer scale of any McGregor event have consistently complicated his comeback efforts. Still, White’s confidence — even if tempered — suggests the door remains open for 2026 to finally mark McGregor's return.

Uncrowned's Ariel Helwani recently reported that a March meeting between McGregor and the UFC went well, leading to optimism toward a July 11 International Fight Week event date, potentially for a rematch against former featherweight champion and former BMF titleholder Max Holloway.

For now, though, both names remain in pending. Makhachev appears targeted for a late summer return, while McGregor, the sport’s all-time biggest star, lingers in the “maybe” column — as he so often does.

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