Midnight Mania: Bad Business? UFC Canceled Mac’s Highly Lucrative ‘Glorified Spar’ Vs. Paul

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Conor McGregor will not be traveling to India and boxing Logan (or Jake) Paul anytime soon.

A month ago, news broke that McGregor was in discussion to box one of the Paul brothers in an exhibition match funded by a billionaire. Allegedly, there was a $250 million purse in play, which is far from chump change even to these wealthy influencer athletes. There was immediately doubt as to whether McGregor could pull it off, however, as he’s still under UFC contract and is supposed to fight in 2025.

Such skepticism was well-founded. In a recent interview with “The Schmo,” McGregor revealed that UFC shut down the exhibition match, which he describes as a “glorified spar.” In addition, McGregor wonders why such a good business deal was passed up, seeing as it could have made money for UFC, WWE (Paul is a WWE superstar), and the TKO stock as a whole.

“It is what it is,” McGregor explained (via MMA Junkie). “The UFC just aren’t into it. The offer was there on the table, in writing. Both athletes will say, ‘He’s not fighting,’ but both athlete are under the TKO banner. UFC, WWE both rising up. The stock price of TKO Holding Ground through the roof. New market in India opened up and booming. It was business savvy, and business sense to make the fight happen. Or should I say the glorified spar happen.

“In between this waiting period that we find ourselves in before I can get back to the Cctagon, it made perfect sense on the calendar to go ahead with it. The UFC weren’t into it. The WWE, I’m not sure what their interest in it was. I just knew the UFC weren’t into it.”

In the same interview, McGregor also threatened to fight randomly for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) and cross over into influencer boxing … though I’m not sure the Irish superstar wants any more legal drama. At any rate, UFC is continually delaying his comeback schedule, so it’s really hard to say when we’ll see McGregor in any kind of competition.

Hopefully it’s this year at least?

Insomnia

Go watch your local regional fights for a great evening of action and some likely hilarity.

Marvin Vettori teasing a return after 21 months on the sidelines! Reminder: “The Italian Dream” is still just 31 years old.

Conor McGregor still has the gift of gab if nothing else.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me on no less than 14 different occasions …

Cory Sandhagen makes the logical argument for a booking vs. Sean O’Malley. Any objections?

Alex Pereira has sparred with more stars and legends than anybody else.

Former foes Demetrious Johnson and Rodtang working together in the gym!

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Certainly a straighter 1-2 than the current women’s Bantamweight champion throws …

15 years ago, Paul Daley ends the momentum of Dustin Hazelett with his signature punch.

Electric through and through.

Random Land

The insane billionaire who wants to live forever (for some reason) is measuring his son’s erection data — peak posting.

Midnight Music: Glam rock, 1977

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.