“It’s Eventually Going to Happen” – Dana White’s Old Statement Hinted at a Conor McGregor Olympics Appearance

The Olympics is the biggest International multiple sporting event in the world that takes place every four years. It witnesses thousands of athletes take part in sports and events from different countries that are a part of the International Olympic Committee. In the past, there have been rumors of adding new sports to the Olympics catalog and MMA could be one.

Even before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, there were efforts regarding the same from the MMA world. One of the most vocal supporters of MMA’s inclusion in the Olympics is UFC president Dana White.

If things actually go his way, there is a high possibility that we see the biggest UFC superstars in the Olympics. The competition has athletes representing their respective countries, and Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya, and Alexander Volkanovski could be some big names.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 09: Conor McGregor speaks with UFC President Dana White during a ceremonial weigh in for UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena on July 09, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Dana White has admitted in the past that he has tried to convince the IOC to consider taking in MMA. According to him, it is a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ MMA will be a part of the Olympics.

In a UFC unfiltered interview in 2016, White said, “My team has been working on that for a long time. Four or five years, we’ve been working on it. It’s going to happen. It’s eventually going to happen. It is just a matter of when and how many resources we want to put behind it.”

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Many UFC fighters are now used to earning huge sums of money for their fights. Some believe the fighters might not be interested in competing in an event that pays much less. However, despite the parity in money, representing one’s country and the flag has its own pride and worth for some.

Whether MMA actually becomes an Olympics sport is for the future to disclose. Although, one can bet on it being a big success if the proposal goes through.

Read More: Is Daniel Cormier the Greatest of All Time?

Ex-Olympians turning to MMA

There might be time before MMA fighters compete at the Olympics, but we have already seen Olympians competing in the UFC. MMA is a highly technical sport that demands athletes to be skilled in multiple combat sports. Some of these sports, like wrestling and judo, are already an Olympics sports, and many former Olympians have turned to MMA.

One of the most iconic Olympic gold medallists inside UFC is the Henry Cejudo. Cejudo proved his worth at the 2008 Olympics by becoming the then-youngest American to earn a gold medal in Wrestling.

After that, he carried his greatness to MMA as well, as he retired in 2020 with two division titles to his name.

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – MAY 09: Henry Cejudo talks with UFC president Dana White after announcing his retirement in the Octagon after his UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 249 event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on May 09, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Another former Olympic medallist who made her name inside MMA was Ronda Rousey. Rousey won the Bronze medal in Judo in 2008, representing the USA.

She is credited as the one who made women’s MMA what it is today with her fierce fighting and record. Rousey became the first UFC female fighter and the first female Bantamweight champion in 2012.

ANAHEIM, CA – FEBRUARY 23: Ronda Rousey celebrates her UFC Bantamweight Title over Liz Carmouche at Honda Center on February 23, 2013 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Daniel Cormier is another Olympic wrestler switching careers to become a mixed-martial artist. He finished 4th in Freestyle Wrestling at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. ‘DC’ joined the UFC in 2013 and soon became one of the top fighters in the promotion.

In fact, he dominated two divisions in his career, winning the titles in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions in 2015 and 2018, respectively.

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 03: Daniel Cormier of the United States celebrates his victory over Derrick Lewis of the United States in their heavyweight title bout during the UFC 230 event at Madison Square Garden on November 3, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)

Will UFC fans see Conor McGregor on an Olympic podium in 2024? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below.

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