Dana White teased in mid-December after the UFC’s final event of 2024 that he had “something in the works that (media and fans) will never (expletive) see coming for 2025.”
The UFC president gave a vague update on that this week during an appearance on Pardon My Take.
“It’s probably going to happen, and it’s going to happen in the fall, a fight that I’m working on,” White said.
White did not give any hints as to the potential weight class or which fighters could potentially be involved.
During the interview, which was released Wednesday in advance of Saturday’s anticipated UFC 311 card, White was also asked separately about Conor McGregor’s fighting future.
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Watch UFC 311 on Sportsnet+
Islam Makhachev faces Arman Tsarukyan for the lightweight title and Merab Dvalishvili takes on Umar Nurmagomedov for the bantamweight championship. Watch UFC 311 on Saturday, Jan. 18 with prelim coverage beginning 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and the pay-per-view main card starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
White was lacking on specifics but did echo some sentiments he has previously expressed, saying the former two-division champion would “eventually” compete in the UFC again.
“Hopefully Conor McGregor returns in the fall,” White said after also clarifying McGregor’s next opponent would not be influencers-turned-occasional-boxers Logan Paul or KSI.
McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC since he broke his leg during a loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021. The Irish star has also dealt with legal issues, including multiple civil lawsuits against him, in recent years.
The 36-year-old was scheduled to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in the summer but that matchup fell apart after McGregor sustained a toe injury while training. There have also been rumours he is in negotiations to compete in an exhibition boxing match at some point this year.
FORMER CHAMP HOLM GRANTED RELEASE BY UFC
One-time women’s UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm is no longer an active fighter on the UFC roster after being granted her release by the organization.
The 43-year-old is now a free agent and plans on continuing her combat sports career.
Holm was a boxing world champion before beginning mixed martial arts in 2011. She began her MMA career 10-0, including a run to UFC gold, but has posted a sub-.500 record since then.
The Albuquerque, N.M., native became the first woman to defeat Ronda Rousey when she knocked her out in 2015 to become champion.
Holm amassed a UFC record of 8-7 with one no-contest. The majority of her losses occurred in title fights or against former UFC champions, and Holm also has multiple wins over fellow former titleholder Raquel Pennington.
UFC UNVEILS FULL FEB. 15 FIGHT NIGHT LINEUP
The UFC confirmed this week the Fight Night card scheduled for the UFC Apex on Feb. 15 is being headlined by middleweights Jared Cannonier and Gregory Rodrigues.
The pair of 185-pound knockout artists have been heading in opposite directions, with Cannonier on a two-fight losing streak and Rodrigues having won three in a row and five of his past six overall.
Featherweights Calvin Kattar and Youseff Zalal are set to meet in the night’s penultimate bout.
Below is a look at all 14 scheduled matchups and the projected bout order, which is subject to change, for the event airing on Sportsnet, with preliminary card coverage beginning at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT on Feb. 15.
— Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues
— Calvin Kattar vs. Youseff Zalal
— Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Dylan Budka
— Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov
— Rodolfo Vieira vs. Andre Petroski
— Connor Matthews vs. Jose Delgado
— Angela Hill vs. Ketlen Souza
— Jared Gordon vs. Kauê Fernandes
— Rafael Estevam vs. Jesus Aguilar
— Gabriel Bonfim vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov
— Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith
— Billy Ray Goff vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
— Valter Walker vs. Don’Tale Mayes
— Julia Avila vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti
