A win for Conor McGregor over Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246 will earn him the coveted rematch he’s been seeking with Khabib Nurmagomedov.
During an interview on Thursday with Jim Rome, UFC president Dana White confirmed McGregor will decide his own destiny with a victory on Saturday night.
“He gets what he’s been waiting for,” White answered when asked what comes next for McGregor. “He gets what he’s been asking for. He has been chomping at the bit for the Khabib rematch. I think it’s no big secret.
“If he wins this weekend, he will get that shot at the title and it will be the biggest pay-per-view ever in UFC history.”
It’s not the first time White has outlined such a plan. This past month, he told BT Sport he would attempt to make it if McGregor beat Cerrone and Nurmagomedov bested Tony Ferguson in April. Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, scoffed at the idea and said he would decide his next opponent.
The first fight between McGregor and Nurmagomedov was touted as the most profitable event in UFC history. But White believes the rematch would be even bigger.
McGregor has claimed he’d win a rematch with adjustments to his training and strategy; he fell to Nurmagomedov by fourth round rear naked choke in their first meeting.
Toss in a heated rivalry with the undefeated Russian, and it only adds fuel to the fire as McGregor seeks to avenge his loss.
First and foremost, McGregor has to get through Cerrone, while Nurmagomedov is currently gearing up for a showdown against Ferguson at UFC 249 this spring.
Judging by White’s comments, he’s salivating at the profits to be made from a second bite at the apple if that epic event comes together in 2020.
