Additional Coverage:
- Dana White could steal spotlight from Ronda Rousey with Conor McGregor fight announcement (irishstar.com)
UFC CEO Dana White may be gearing up for a strategic power play this weekend by unveiling Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated return on the very night Ronda Rousey steps back into the octagon against Gina Carano.
Rousey, 39, marks her first MMA fight in over a decade this Saturday at Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome. Her bout against fellow veteran Carano, 44, headlines a star-studded Netflix event featuring UFC names like Francis Ngannou, Nate Diaz, and Mike Perry. According to Jake Paul, whose Most Valuable Promotions is organizing the fight, Rousey is set to earn more from this match than Ilia Topuria will as co-headliner at next month’s UFC Freedom 250 event.
In the lead-up to the fight, Rousey hasn’t held back, openly criticizing the UFC’s fighter pay structure and questioning why top-level fighters still need to seek outside income. She has also openly dismissed the upcoming UFC card at the White House, bluntly stating that Dana White “knows it sucks.”
While White has largely remained silent on Rousey’s remarks, this weekend presents a prime opportunity for him to respond decisively. Alongside the Netflix card, UFC Vegas 117 will take place, though it lacks the same star power. White could steal some of the spotlight by announcing McGregor’s return to the UFC-an announcement that fans have eagerly awaited.
McGregor’s comeback has been anticipated for some time, with speculation pointing to a fight at UFC 329 during International Fight Week in July. Rumors strongly suggest a rematch against Max Holloway. With UFC 329 just two months away, an official announcement is expected soon, and Saturday night’s event could be the perfect stage for White to reveal the news-potentially overshadowing Rousey’s return.
Adding to the buzz, well-known MMA journalist Ariel Helwani hinted recently that the UFC is ready to announce McGregor’s next fight imminently. During a live event in New York City, Helwani responded to skepticism about his McGregor report by confidently stating the announcement would come “in the next 24 or so hours.” Although that window has passed, optimism remains high that the weekend will bring the big reveal.
In sum, Saturday night’s UFC events could become a defining moment, with Dana White possibly leveraging McGregor’s comeback announcement to reclaim the narrative and shift attention away from one of his biggest critics, Ronda Rousey.