Conor McGregor to finally be stripped of lightweight title, confirms UFC president Dana White
The Irishman last fought inside the Octagon against Eddie Alvarez in November 2016, with Tony Ferguson being lined up to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the belt
CONOR McGREGOR will be stripped of his UFC lightweight title, Dana White has confirmed.
The 29-year-old hasn't fought inside the steel cage since he knocked out Eddie Alvarez in October 2016, with the Irishman last in action back in August when lost against .
But his inactivity in MMA has led his belt to be taken away from him, with Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov to fight at UFC 223 at the Barclays Center in New York.
Speaking to , White said: "I said in the last press conference, that fight [Ferguson vs Khabib] will be for the title.
"It's not for the interim title. That fight is for the title.
"Is he upset? Conor understands. Listen, Conor made a lot of money. He wants some time off, but the division has to go on and the business has to go on."
The 48-year-old then stressed he would like to see the Notorious face the winner of the April bout.
He added: "I'd like to see Conor fight the winner. It was August and then September [for his return], I don't know. I say it all the time, with that kind of money, Conor might never come back. It's a lot of money.
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McGregor has been linked with a rematch against Mayweather inside the Octagon, with White revealing that talks are underway.
He said of the potential clash: "The only way a rematch makes sense in that fight is in the UFC."