MMA in 2017 was defined by Conor McGregor’s boxing match with Floyd Mayweather. And 2018? Well, things are moving in a pretty similar direction.
Discussion and teases about a Mayweather move to MMA have been a steady part of the combat sports news cycle over the last few months. The latest example? An interesting (and NSFW) tweet from Money that dropped early Sunday morning:
For those who missed it, the Mayweather-to-MMA rumor mill began churning in 2017 when longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan discussed how Mayweather was in negotiations with the UFC in regards to competing in the Octagon. UFC President Dana White later confirmed Rogan’s claims, only to have Mayweather pour water on the topic by flatly denying everything.
The topic came back with gusto in January, however, when Mayweather posted a video on Twitter that showed him stepping into an MMA cage. While it initially seemed like the post was simply a publicity stunt for one of his sponsors, Irish betting site Paddy Power, the hints haven’t stopped in the weeks since.
Whether this is anything more than Mayweather trying to keep his name in the headlines is unclear at this time. Transitioning to MMA would likely go very poorly for the 40-year-old boxer, who lacks the grappling experience to compete with even low-level mixed martial artists. That said, a rematch with McGregor in the cage also likely represents the biggest payday available at this time while also leaving his 50-0 record intact regardless of the outcome.
This tweet doesn’t necessarily swing the odds in one direction or the other, but it certainly keeps this rivalry going.
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