While 2016 was a record year for UFC pay-per-views (PPV) with all previous figures shattered, one man stood out head and shoulders above his peers in “the numbers game”. At the beginning of last year, the UFC’s financial forecasters would have looked towards Conor McGregor’s defense of his featherweight title, the UFC 200 card and the return of […]
While 2016 was a record year for UFC pay-per-views (PPV) with all previous figures shattered, one man stood out head and shoulders above his peers in “the numbers game”. At the beginning of last year, the UFC’s financial forecasters would have looked towards Conor McGregor’s defense of his featherweight title, the UFC 200 card and the return of […]
Conor McGregor can chalk one boxer off his wishlist, as UFC President White confirms that he has no interest in the fight. The McGregor v [Floyd] Mayweather soap opera introduced a new character to the cast last week, when multi-divisional champion and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao stated that he would be willing to fight “The […]
Conor McGregor can chalk one boxer off his wishlist, as UFC President White confirms that he has no interest in the fight. The McGregor v [Floyd] Mayweather soap opera introduced a new character to the cast last week, when multi-divisional champion and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao stated that he would be willing to fight “The […]
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a man on a mission, and it appears nothing will get in his way of his goal to become the undisputed, UFC lightweight champion of the world. Nurmagomedov, the #1 ranked 155 pounder in the world comes face to face with #2 Tony Ferguson on March 4. Although the bout presents both with an […]
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a man on a mission, and it appears nothing will get in his way of his goal to become the undisputed, UFC lightweight champion of the world. Nurmagomedov, the #1 ranked 155 pounder in the world comes face to face with #2 Tony Ferguson on March 4. Although the bout presents both with an […]
Conor McGregor versus Floyd Mayweather has been a consistent source of interest and frustration since reports emerged early last year of a potential fight. Like it or not, talk and rumors are not going to away any time soon. This is further evidenced when someone close to either fighter makes a statement which doesn’t entirely rule a bout out […]
Conor McGregor versus Floyd Mayweather has been a consistent source of interest and frustration since reports emerged early last year of a potential fight. Like it or not, talk and rumors are not going to away any time soon. This is further evidenced when someone close to either fighter makes a statement which doesn’t entirely rule a bout out […]
In recent weeks, the much-ballyhooed Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather boxing match-up has gone from a far-off dream to now only being a legitimate possibility with an absolute mountain of roadblocks to surpass for it to actually happen. By now the story has been discussed over and again, with McGregor obtaining his boxing license in
In recent weeks, the much-ballyhooed Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather boxing match-up has gone from a far-off dream to now only being a legitimate possibility with an absolute mountain of roadblocks to surpass for it to actually happen.
Mayweather scoffed at the offer like everyone expected him to – yet there’s a strong very strong argument to be made that it’s “Money” who needs the UFC more than they need him to lock up one more monstrous payday before he heads off into the sunset with hopefully a 50-0 record in tow. UFC commentator Jon Anik recently appeared on Bruce Buffer’s podcast (via Bloody Elbow), and while he and Buffer are UFC employees who will side with their employer through thick and thin, Anik nonetheless raised an interesting point – even if it was just for discussion.
Take a look and see if you think it has any merit:
“I feel like everybody focused on Dana White saying $25 million. But they really should’ve focused on what else he said, which is the fact that the biggest fight Floyd Mayweather has right now, is Conor McGregor. That’s the fight he needs. There’s really no other fight for Floyd Mayweather right now that going to command 2, if not 3 million pay-per-view buys. So tell me who needs who?
“Certainly Conor could realize the biggest payday of his career, but he can fight Nate Diaz and all these other guys, and make 25, 30, if not 40 million. Floyd needs Conor and the UFC a lot more than they need him right now.”
While it’s tough to lend full legitimacy to Anik’s words due to his alliance, the concept, in a vacuum, may be at least somewhat valid. Case in point, Mayweather’s last fight, a September 2015 decision win over the lesser-known Andre Berto, gained an alarmingly low number of paying viewers after Mayweather largely let the entire world down with his ultra-safe win over Manny Pacquiao in the supposed “boxing fight of the century” in May of that year.
That proved Mayweather may no longer be able to sell a massive pay-per-view (PPV) card on his own without an equally admired foil, and McGregor would most certainly play that part to perfection, even if he hasn’t officially fought in a professional boxing bout. And even though “Money” has a truly legitimate claim to be one of it not the best boxers of all-time, at the end of the day combat sports fans want to see knockouts and he rarely delivers them.
McGregor obviously does that for fans on a consistent basis. His trash talk and over-the-top persona rub just as many fans the wrong way as they do bring admirers to his side, but love or hate him, McGregor comes to finish fights. He also promotes a rivalry like no other MMA fighter has before, making him the most sought-after opponent in the UFC. There are several rivalries out there for him, be it with Nate Diaz, Tyron Woodley, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jose Aldo, or even the biggest fight out there – a super fight with former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.
McGregor is currently on hiatus awaiting the birth of his first child, so there’s no telling which of these rivalries we’ll actually see him take part in, or when they will happen. Yet any one of those would be must-see cards where McGregor would earn in the tens of millions for. With Mayweather offering the potential for less than that, McGregor doesn’t need “Money’s” money right now. Mayweather’s only path to one last huge bout, as ridiculous as it sounds, goes through McGregor whether he likes it or not.
In video #3 of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational promotional series, the UFC’s lightweight champion edges closer to his fictional foray into life as a professional jockey. “The Notorious” enlists coach (actor and comedian) Jon Lovitz to assist in choosing his attire for the big race. Lovitz attempts to persuade McGregor into wearing a garment closer to his heart, while McGregor would prefers to bare all to the world.
Known for his extravagance in appearance, and ostentatious dress sense, the SBG fighter doesn’t look too far out of place here.
McGregor makes debut as a jockey in the final episode of the series which airs on NBC on January 28th.
Fight fans will undoubtedly want to see him back in the octagon as soon as possible, rather than promoting products.
In video #3 of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational promotional series, the UFC’s lightweight champion edges closer to his fictional foray into life as a professional jockey. “The Notorious” enlists coach (actor and comedian) Jon Lovitz to assist in choosing his attire for the big race. Lovitz attempts to persuade McGregor into wearing a garment closer to his heart, while McGregor would prefers to bare all to the world.
Known for his extravagance in appearance, and ostentatious dress sense, the SBG fighter doesn’t look too far out of place here.
McGregor makes debut as a jockey in the final episode of the series which airs on NBC on January 28th.
Fight fans will undoubtedly want to see him back in the octagon as soon as possible, rather than promoting products.
