There was once a time Conor McGregor would ask, and Dana White would oblige. Now, it seems Conor has been asking, but Dana White has bigger fish to fry. Or is it the other way around? The Irishman set the UFC and Dana White on high alert this week when he made an announcement from Florence, Italy: “Conor McGregor will fight in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, mark my words.” Despite having two remaining contract fights with the UFC, the Irishman’s potential move to BKFC could leave UFC CEO Dana White feeling uneasy.

After months of recovering from the pinky toe injury that led to his UFC 303 pullout, the Irishman kept pushing Dana White to let him fight, even suggesting, “February 1 works for me in Saudi.” However, Dana White dashed Conor McGregor’s hopes in late 2024 by extending his hiatus until the fall of 2025, sparking a frenzy in the fight world. So, what went wrong between ‘The Notorious’ and Dana White, once a duo known for their close business partnership rather than a typical boss-employee dynamic? We delve deeper into three key takeaways that ruined the Conor McGregor-Dana White relationship. Let’s take a closer look.

Is Conor McGregor Dana White’s competition now?

Last year, Conor McGregor, much like a silent force, kept his achievements out of the spotlight. Despite being on hiatus, the megastar continued to grow his business empire, much like Thanos on a quest for the Infinity Gauntlets. One of his significant moves was acquiring shares in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). Though ‘The Notorious’ is a co-owner, BKFC has fully capitalized on his fame, positioning him as the face of the promotion.

According to the actual boss of BKFC David Feldman, Conor McGregor’s star power has skyrocketed the promotion’s marketing, especially since his debut appearance at BKFC 63 with his bold new look. This week, McGregor posted a social media message to Dana White and the UFC, boldly stating, “The Face of the Fight Game. Period.” Those seven powerful words were enough to sour the relationship between the Irishman and Dana White.

Conor McGregor UFC return facing constant delays

After Conor McGregor suffered an injury a few weeks before UFC 303 in the summer of 2024, he hinted at a possible return in August or September 2024. However, Dana White flouted the Irishman’s hopes, stating, “I don’t think he’s going to fight this year, amid all the talk and everything else. Conor McGregor will fight next year, early 2025.” This forced McGregor to adjust his plans to align with his UFC boss’s timeline. In November, ‘The Notorious’ targeted a February 1 return in Saudi Arabia against Dan Hooker.

Yet, February 1 passed without the fight, as the spotlight shifted to the blockbuster matchup between Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov. In December 2024, Dana White set a new return timeline for Conor McGregor, saying, “Hopefully, Conor McGregor returns in the fall of this year,” while hinting at UFC’s annual Madison Square Garden event. However, earlier this month, Dana White posted on X, “Conor? Not sure when Conor will be back,” pouring cold water on McGregor’s 2025 return. This evolving timeline may be one of the factors contributing to the growing strain in ‘The Notorious’ and Dana White’s relationship.

Dana White canceled Conor McGregor vs. Logan Paul

Last year, Conor McGregor rocked the combat sports world when he announced on X, “I am in preliminary agreements with the Ambani family to face Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India. I have agreed. I will then seek my return to the Octagon.” The proposed exhibition would have seen McGregor square off against Youtuber-turned-WWE star Logan Paul at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India— a venue known for hosting high-profile events. Logan Paul, with a 1-1-2 boxing record after bouts with Dillon Danis, Floyd Mayweather, and KSI, was seen as a fitting opponent for McGregor, especially as he edges toward his 40s after a four-year hiatus.

However, the Irishman still has two fights remaining on his UFC contract and needs Dana White’s approval to pursue this match, much like he did back in 2017 when he faced Floyd Mayweather, with the UFC CEO backing him along the way. This time, though, Dana White is not backing Conor McGregor’s venture, nor is he prepared to release him or grant permission to compete elsewhere. When the topic of the McGregor vs. Logan Paul exhibition in India came up, Dana White firmly stated, “no” during an appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast.

What’s your perspective on our list regarding Conor McGregor and Dana White’s rumored “ruined” relationship? Do you think the dynamic between the Irishman and White has changed? It seems Dana White no longer views ‘The Notorious’ as a man of his word when it comes to returning to the Octagon. Feel free to share your thoughts below.