UFC President Dana White thinks a Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Conor McGregor fight probably won't happen.
White said Thursday on ESPN Radio's Russillo & Kanell that he doesn't see the 49-0 Mayweather taking on the current UFC featherweight champion in a sanctioned bout because of how long it took him to fight Manny Pacquiao.
"Let me put it to you this way," White said, per Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com. "Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are in the same sport. It took how long for those two to fight? Now imagine how hard it would be to get [Mayweather and McGregor] to fight. They're not in the same sport."
On May 7, Mayweather said his camp started any rumors about a potential fight with the Irishman. McGregor upped the ante by tweeting an altered image of him and Mayweather facing off:
The Sun reported that the two were discussing a potential megafight in Las Vegas later this summer, but White said the rumors were not true because Mayweather's camp would have to go through him.
"Is this thing going to be MMA or boxing rules?" White said, per Okamoto. "Who's getting the lion's share of the money? This and that. It's impossible. But like I've said, 'Floyd, you want to fight Conor, call me.'"
White holds all the leverage, seeing how the Irishman is still under contract with UFC, and the MMA company would probably get the better share of the money because it could be liable for anything that happens to McGregor.
That said, there would certainly be plenty of cash to go around if there is a fight, and it's hard to believe money would be a roadblock if talks reach that stage. In terms of legacy, a bout would do little for either fighter, as neither is polished in the other's discipline.
White sounds open to negotiations should such a fight ever happen. As of now, though, it appears to be a pipe dream.
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