Islam Makhachev says Turki Alalshikh personally called Conor McGregor to ask about a boxing match between the two, and Dana White ended the idea without saying a word.
Makhachev, who defends his welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry in Saturday’s UFC 330 main event, told UFC Eurasia the offer came while he was attending a boxing event alongside the Saudi General Entertainment Authority chairman.
“I have a new story to tell regarding McGregor. I went to a boxing event and I was with Turki Alalshikh. He called Conor. He asked Conor if he wants to box with me,” Makhachev said.
The champion said he was willing, and that he pointed Alalshikh toward the one person in the room who could actually sign off on it.
“I told him to ask Dana White who was near us. He laughed about it. We couldn’t really talk. He started showing … body language.”
Makhachev has no illusions about his own boxing pedigree. “I am not a high level boxer but I can handle myself with other MMA fighters on the feet,” he said.
Where The Crossover Runs Into A Wall
On paper the fight is easy to make. White controls both men’s UFC contracts, he launched a boxing operation with Alalshikh, and the Saudi power broker has spent the past two years building cards nobody expected to see.
White has been blunt about keeping the two sports apart.
“No, never,” White previously said about MMA fighters competing under the Zuffa Boxing banner. “I’m sure there are guys that want to box, but I literally don’t want to see any of that. We’ll keep the boxers in boxing, and the MMA guys in MMA.”
McGregor’s own situation complicates things further. His UFC 329 return against Max Holloway lasted 69 seconds before a right knee injury ended it.
Makhachev has more immediate business. He puts the welterweight title on the line against Machado Garry on Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
