Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
According to this report, we know Conor McGregor will bank at least a $5 million guaranteed payday for his comeback fight at UFC 246 this weekend (Sat., Jan. 18, 2020) when he faces Donald Cerrone in Las Vegas, Nevada.
But, “Notorious” paints an entirely different picture. According to the former “champ-champ,” he will earn more around the neighborhood of $80 million. So when Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White was broached on the subject, he wouldn’t exactly confirm nor deny the claim.
“Listen, Conor is a massive superstar in this sport and he’s a phenomenon. The kid has been making big money since the day he stepped in,” White told The Mac Life. “From day one, since he fought he started to go (up). Nothing has changed. Obviously, he needs a win and it’s a big deal for him to get back here and win this fight.”
Unlike Floyd Mayweather, McGregor doesn’t flash his paychecks all across social media, so there are some who are a bit skeptical that he will actually make that much … or that he even scored $50 million to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in 2018.
That said, “Notorious” doesn’t really gain much by exaggerating his paydays. After all, it’s clear by the lavish life he lives he does indeed rake in the millions. And for those who feel McGregor’s popularity has taken a hit because of his extended hiatus and bevy of out-of-the cage issues, White says that is far from the truth.
“When you talk about people who say they have ‘insight’ into the business and say all these things, they are all full of shit,” White declared. “None of them know what they are talking about. And literally none of them know anything about this business. Not one.
“We knew what the Conor fight would do,” he continued. “We are the ones who set the ticket prices and all the things that go along with the business. Conor’s coming in here and pulling a $10.6 million gate and the fight is off the charts. As far as ESPN, and what’s going on there with PPV and everything else, everything is as usual.”
Indeed, UFC 246 sold out in a matter of minutes, and with the price of the pay-per-view (PPV) jumping up a few bucks for this event, all parties involved are sure to make out with a king’s ransom.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 246 fight card this weekend RIGHT HERE, starting with the Fight Pass/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 246: “McGregor vs. Cerrone” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.