UFC president Dana White has insisted that Conor McGregor never turns down a fight and isn’t afraid to fight anyone.
McGregor hasn’t fought since last October but according to White this does not mean he is ducking opponents.
The UFC president was responding to rumours McGregor could return to the octagon before the end of the year.
He told BT Sport: “No, Conor hasn’t turned down anything. “Listen, Ali [Abdez-Aziz] can say whatever, Conor doesn’t turn down fights, period.”
The MMA fighter has been linked with a potential fight with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone but McGregor supposedly refused to settle for a co-headlining slot.
McGregor, who lost to lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229, has since been called out by Justin Gaethje and his manager Ali Abdez-Aziz.
White said: “Conor has been one of the most stand up [guys], when things get crazy and most people pull out of fights, Conor McGregor stays in.
"McGregor isn’t afraid to fight anyone so that is absolutely false.”
White also believes that although McGregor won’t turn down a fight, he will be bide his time until key fights in the lightweight division play out.
He said: “Conor’s in a position where he’s sitting back right now, I think waiting to see how this whole thing plays out with all these guys but he should pop up soon.
“Yeah, I think we’ll see him this year.”
