​Dana White is buzzing about the potential paths opened by a Conor McGregor victory at UFC 329. McGregor, currently 22-6 in MMA with a 10-4 mark in UFC, returns from a long layoff to rematch Max Holloway, who is 27-9 in MMA with a 23-9 UFC record, in Saturday’s welterweight main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, streaming on Paramount+. McGregor still has two fights left on his contract, but those plans could be altered depending on how he fares against Holloway. In the build-up, McGregor dropped a remark about a possible “triple crown” pursuit, hinting at chasing a third UFC belt, and White says there are several avenues to explore for the former dual-champion.
“Anything is possible if he wins on Saturday night,” White told The Mac Life. “No matter who wins on Saturday night, it’s a big win and a significant step in their careers, especially right now. These are two guys who have done it all. I’ve got about five scenarios in my head if Conor wins, and about three if Max wins. So, it’s huge for both of them.”
White also emphasized what makes the sport so compelling: the element of surprise. “Who saw the White House coming? That would happen? I didn’t see this fight coming. Last year I told you I thought he’d fight this year and he didn’t, so then I figured he wouldn’t fight. It’s what keeps this thing fun—having a sense of what the rest of the year might look like, while knowing things will unfold in ways we don’t anticipate.”
White notes that it has been five years since McGregor fought, following a grievous leg break in July 2021. If McGregor wins at UFC 329, White believes his comeback would be unlike anything previously seen in combat sports after such a long layoff. “It says everything about him,” White said of McGregor’s return. “When you consider the history of fighting, tell me anyone who returned after this significant a break and performed at that level. Muhammad Ali came back after three years and wasn’t the same. These are precisely the kinds of challenges that a guy like McGregor thrives on. If he wins on Saturday night, he will achieve something no one has ever done in any combat sport after such a layoff.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie and highlights White’s five scenarios in mind for McGregor following a UFC 329 triumph.