Dana White on why Islam Makhachev won't fight in January: 'I think it's money'
The UFC CEO told The Mac Life that "twice would be nice" for a champion, weeks after saying Makhachev had given "no reason" for waiting until after Ramadan.
Dana White has told The Mac Life he thinks money is why Islam Makhachev is not defending the welterweight title in January.
"I think it's money," the UFC CEO said on Wednesday. "Once you get so much money — when guys are young and hungry, they want to fight a lot because they want to get paid. But once you start to get enough money, you don't have to fight all the time." He added: "And for him, to be fair to Islam, look at what he's accomplished."
White also said he wants more from his champion. "I think when you get to a position where he's at and what he's accomplished, who knows what he's thinking or what he wants to do next? But, obviously, I like when guys fight a lot. Being the champ, I don't really expect you to fight three times a year, but twice would be nice," he said. "What you start to do is back up the division, because lots of guys would like a shot at the title." Of the January plan, he said: "Yeah, it was verbally agreed to."
After UFC 333 last month, White was asked whether Makhachev had given a reason. He said: "No, no reason."
Money is White's opinion, and Makhachev has not given it as his reason. The champion has said he turned down the Carlos Prates fight because Prates had recently lost to Ian Machado Garry, a fighter Makhachev has already beaten, and that his next fight "is one of the last in my career". He will not return until after Ramadan.
Colby Covington has raised money too. Stressing he did not know, he called the retirement talk "probably a negotiation tactic" and floated "crazy demands" of "$15, $20, $30 million".
Prates, who says Makhachev "chickened out", now faces Michael Morales for the interim belt at UFC 336 in Toronto on 30 January. Makhachev is 18-1 in the UFC and the 11th two-division champion in its history.
Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing
More MMA from Combat Sports UK
- Dana White says he 'might have threw some tough guys' at Josh Hokit over things he said
- Adlan Amagov, the man Jon Jones says KO'd him in sparring, reportedly signs with ACBJJ
- Big John McCarthy says Dana White is 'absolutely pissed' over Bellator: 'I don't want him'
- "He's got the right man": Davey Grant wants first-round KO of Elijah Smith, but expects a war
The UK fight briefing
The stories, results and upcoming fights worth knowing. Every Friday.