Dana White: If Conor McGregor beats Jose Aldo, he'll defend title at Ireland stadium
Conor McGregor will get that stadium show he's been asking for -- as long as he becomes the UFC featherweight champion.
UFC president Dana White said on Australia's "The NRL Footy Show" (h/t Severe MMA) that McGregor is a cinch to headline at Croke Park in Ireland if he defeats Jose Aldo in the main event of UFC 194 on Dec. 12 in Las Vegas.
"If he beats Jose Aldo in Las Vegas in December, the next fight will be at Croke Park," White said. "We told him he could defend his title at Croke Park."
McGregor has not fought in his native Ireland since July 2014 when he knocked out Diego Brandao in the main event of a UFC Fight Pass card. Since then, he has competed in Las Vegas twice (headlining once) and Boston, an Irish hotbed in the United States. McGregor tried to get on the UFC's show in Ireland on Oct. 24, but the timing was not right with his fight against Aldo coming up.
Recently, McGregor returned to Dublin for the first time in months after having his training camp for Chad Mendes at UFC 189 in Las Vegas. McGregor then stayed in Las Vegas to film The Ultimate Fighter 22.
Aldo, the UFC featherweight champion, was supposed to be McGregor's opponent at UFC 189 in July, but pulled out two weeks from the bout due to a bad rib injury. Mendes filled in and McGregor finished him via TKO in the second round to win the interim belt.