Conor McGregor reportedly turned down an opportunity to compete against Mauricio Ruffy at the historic UFC event scheduled for the White House on June 14, according to claims made by the Brazilian fighter himself. This revelation comes amidst widespread disappointment from fans after McGregor and Jon Jones were notably absent from the card announced by UFC president Dana White earlier this month.
White House Card Snub and Financial Motives
McGregor, the former dual-weight UFC champion, had expressed strong interest in participating in the South Lawn event after US President Donald Trump unveiled plans for it. However, he attributed his exclusion to the UFC's desire to maximise financial gains from his long-awaited comeback. In a statement, McGregor suggested that the organisation opted to reserve him for International Fight Week in July, a month after the White House spectacle.
Ruffy's Allegations and McGregor's Decision
During a recent appearance on the Overdogs Brazil podcast with Glover Teixeira, Mauricio Ruffy asserted that an offer to fight McGregor in Washington was presented to him. "Conor McGregor talked about the possibility of a fight, opened up the possibility of fighting," Ruffy stated. He further explained, "It was discussed, but he’s the one who makes the decisions and he made the decision not to fight. I also didn’t have high expectations about it."
Ruffy, a top lightweight contender who recently knocked out Rafael Fiziev, has repeatedly called for a clash with McGregor, even issuing a public challenge post-fight. With McGregor declining the White House bout, Ruffy is now expected to face Michael Chandler, McGregor's long-time rival, adding another layer to the ongoing narrative.
McGregor's Comeback and Alternative Opponents
McGregor, who has not fought since suffering a broken leg in a knockout loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021, is eager to return to the octagon this year. Originally slated to face Chandler in 2024 after their roles as opposing coaches on 'The Ultimate Fighter' series, McGregor was forced to withdraw due to injury. Despite this setback, he remains a highly sought-after opponent.
Other fighters, such as former two-time welterweight title challenger Jorge Masvidal, have publicly pursued a bout with McGregor. In a recent interview with TMZ, Masvidal criticised McGregor, stating, "I know Conor’s b**** a** ain’t taking the fight because he ain’t never accepted that fight, and it’s for a reason. I’m a stand-up fighter. I’m better than him at the stand-up. I’m a little bigger than him, and I’m a lot meaner than that coward."
Event Details and Future Prospects
The White House card, headlined by a lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, will also feature Alex Pereira moving up to face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight belt and Sean O'Malley taking on Aiemann Zahabi. McGregor's potential involvement in International Fight Week remains uncertain, but his determination to resume his career is clear.
As the MMA community speculates on McGregor's next move, the Irish star's decision to bypass the White House event continues to fuel discussions about his comeback strategy and the UFC's promotional tactics.
