Not for the first time, a rumoured UFC headline bout involving Conor McGregor is taking plenty of twists and turns before being so much as announced.
Dana White appeared to cast doubt on the Irishman’s proposed UFC 205 face-off against lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, with the UFC president seeming to favour undefeated Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov as the challenger to Alvarez’s crown.
White seems keen for McGregor to defend his featherweight title against Jose Aldo, though The Notorious is thought to remain keen to establish himself as a two-weight champion, and Nurmagomedov’s latest comments suggest that could well happen.
One of the more recent lines of reporting hinted that a McGregor-Alvarez main event could be held up by the latter’s unrealistic financial demands, but the Philadelphia fighter was quick to pour cold water on that.
this is a lie , please don't report llies , You guys are awesome , keep it Real! Thank you #ufc205 #phillyfighter #
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) September 22, 2016
After adding a UFCÂ title to his Bellator lightweight belt with a first-round TKO of Rafael dos Anjos in Las Vegas, extending his career MMA record to 28-4 (3-1 UFC), Alvarez reacted strongly to what he considers an outright lie.
And the 32-year-old’s claims have been backed up by respected MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, who has noted it’s impossible to turn down an offer if it isn’t even on the table.
Reports that Alvarez asked for more money to fight McGregor, thus ruining the deal, are not true, per sources. He has yet to be offered it.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 23, 2016
The UFC 205 card has already lost one big name in Robbie Lawler, with the former welterweight title-holder missing out on a match-up with Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone due to injury.
Local favourite Al Iaquinta has also ruled himself out of an appearance at the promotion’s first New York event, citing a bizarre UFC rule.
If the UFC is able to pair Alvarez with Nurmagomedov and introduce a McGregor-Aldo rematch to the card, it would more than compensate for those two withdrawals. But Alvarez may well hold out for his ‘red panty night’, even if the offer is yet to arrive.
