Dana White: Conor McGregor will not be given ownership in UFC

If Conor McGregor’s retirement tweet was intended to be a leverage ploy for an ownership stake in the UFC, it’s not going to work, according to Dana White.

White told TMZ on Tuesday that McGregor will have to buy an ownership share in the company like anyone else, if that’s what he wants.

“Listen, if you want to own a piece of the company, you have to put up the money to buy a piece of the company,” White told TMZ. “That’s how it works.”

McGregor signed an 8-fight deal with the UFC last year. He recently said he was aiming to fight in July, but then two issues apparently came up. One, McGregor reportedly objected to being part of a co-main event rather than headlining the main event solo. Two, he is now seeking an ownership share.

Then on Monday night McGregor turned up the heat by tweeting his retirement — a claim many did not take seriously.

McGregor last fought in October when he lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. He has been a part of five of the company’s six most purchased pay-per-view fights in history.