"Phone calls were made" - Ariel Helwani gives inside scoop on Conor McGregor vs. Logan Paul, comments on fans' Dana White theory

Ariel Helwani recently offered insights into the rumored boxing showdown between Conor McGregor and Logan Paul. The former two-division UFC champion made waves earlier this week by announcing that he is in the early stages of negotiations and has tentatively agreed to an exhibition boxing showdown with Paul, which is planned to take place in India.

Helwani, who previously hinted that a McGregor vs. Paul matchup might not be as improbable as it initially appears, weighed in on the matter during Thursday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show.

The combat sports journalist confirmed that discussions are likely taking place between the two camps but acknowledged that the potential bout remains a distant possibility for now:

"The only thing that I can add to it is, again, to maintain, as I said yesterday, there's validity to the fact that phone calls were made. What Jake [Paul] tweeted, based on my understanding, is accurate... Phone calls were made between Team McGregor and Team Logan Paul [but it] feels like a long shot."

Following McGregor’s tweet, much attention has shifted to Dana White’s remarks after UFC Tampa last weekend. The UFC CEO disclosed to reporters that he has something monumental in the works for 2025, sparking speculation among fans and analysts that he may be alluding to a potential McGregor vs. Paul clash.

However, based on Helwani’s understanding, this is not related to what White was referring to. He said:

"Digging a little bit, I don't think that this is what Dana White was referring to. That's my verdict. Again, we'll never truly know unless he comes out and says it."

Check out Ariel Helwani's comments below (22:00):

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Daniel Cormier skeptical about Conor McGregor and Logan Paul boxing matchup

The combat sports world has been abuzz ever since Conor McGregor revealed that he is in talks for an exhibition boxing match against Logan Paul. However, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier isn't fully convinced that the prospective matchup will come to fruition just yet.

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, 'DC' addressed McGregor's history of making promises about his return and expressed his belief that the fight won’t be a reality until it actually takes place:

"We talk about impact. That right there tells you the impact of Conor McGregor. Conor McGregor has told us a lot of things over the last three years. None of them have come to fruition. I’m gonna have to see it to believe it."

Check out Daniel Cormier's comments below (1:05):