- UFC president says McGregor ‘is not a 170 pounder’ ahead of Cerrone fight
- ‘I thought he’d weigh in at 67, I didn’t even think he’d hit 170,’ adds White
Conor McGregor looked in the best shape of his career as he and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone both tipped the scales at 170 pounds on Friday night.
But UFC president Dana White is still not entirely convinced of McGregor's prospects in the welterweight division.
"Everybody in that division … I think Cowboy's too big for him," White told a media scrum after the ceremonial weigh-in at Park Theatre in Las Vegas. "Conor is not a 170 pounder. Conor was 145-pound champ."
White famously said last year that No 1 welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal is "too big" for former featherweight and lightweight champion McGregor.
A Masvidal-McGregor fight would possibly break UFC records and is the biggest bout to make in the company, but White still seems hesitant.
"Many people, and probably many standing right in front of me, thought he (McGregor) wouldn't beat Eddie Alvarez (in November 2016)," White said.
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"Because of Eddie's wrestling, he can match him punch for punch, and all the things everybody said going into that fight. He (McGregor) knocked him out in first round easily.
"I don't love him at 170 and this is something Conor and I fight about. And when I say these things he gets very upset with me.
"He wants the Khabib fight. If he beats Cowboy tomorrow night he'll get the rematch with Khabib, if Khabib beats Tony (Ferguson)."
White also expressed surprise that McGregor hit 170 pounds on the dot.
"I thought he'd weigh in at 67, I didn't even think he'd hit 170," White said. "he looks good though. Seems to have a lot of energy. It's good for both these guys. Nobody's dehydrated, nobody's exhausted from cutting weight. I expect a really good fight tomorrow at 170.
"If I took away weight cutting, people would still cut weight, you'd have even bigger guys dropping down to different weights. It's always gonna exist. Every time somebody thinks they can get an advantage they will try."
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