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MMA

20th Sep 2024

Dana White gives huge update on UFC Dublin return

Ryan Price

The CEO of the organisation also confirmed when Conor McGregor will be back in the octagon.

UFC boss Dana White is in Dublin for the first time in a while to watch Irish boxer Callum Walsh’s debut inside the 3Arena on Saturday night.

The Corkman will defend his WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight title against Przemyslaw Runowski this weekend, and White was present at yesterday’s press conference.

The event must have brought back memories from almost a decade ago, when White promoted a show headlined by a rising Conor McGregor at the 3Arena in 2015 – an event that catapulted the Irishman and MMA into the mainstream.

What might have been a nice trip down memory lane quickly turned into a clammy one when a fan asked White about the UFC potentially coming back to Dublin for the first time in almost a decade.

The American multi-millionaire answered: “This arena right here, that fight (McGregor v Brandao) was one of the greatest events I’ve ever been to.

“That was the beginning of the rise of Conor. The answer to your question is soon. We’ll be back here soon.”

When pressed on whether that meant 2025, White said: “Maybe, it’s possible.”

Conor McGregor
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Conor McGregor shares his Irish Whiskey with UFC President Dana White during the UFC 229 Press Conference at Radio City Music Hall on September 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)

He was also questioned on McGregor’s return to the fight game and who his next opponent might be, to which he replied: “It’s going to be determined by when Conor comes back, who the opponent is.

“Whenever Conor is ready, and he comes back…He hit me up last night when he heard that I was here,” he added.

“He’s in New York right now and he’s training.”

Cobh-native Callum Walsh defends his title this Saturday night with the undercards set to commence at 5.30pm.

Walsh’s main event bout should get under way shortly before 10pm, with the event due to be concluded by 10.30pm.