UFC president Dana White made a number of statements regarding Conor McGregor. Saying he wouldn’t fight again until he gets part ownership, the UFC lightweight champion’s demands are heavy…
Since Conor McGregor joined the UFC, it’s become a different place altogether. Some argue he’s made it a circus, others believe McGregor has paved a way forward for future generations of fighters.
Whichever side of the fence his peers sit on, it’s impossible to deny the fact ‘The Notorious’ has changed the game. Even his actions this year alone, fighting Mayweather and earning $100 million, show the Irishman is no average MMA fighter.
Then, at the premiere of the film made about his life, the current lightweight champ made some hefty demands. Once again saying he deserves equity in the UFC, McGregor claimed he wouldn’t fight again without a promoter’s stake in the company.
The comments come at a time when some fighters are struggling to even make a profit in working for the UFC.
McGregor Wants to Run The Show…
“I was promoter on the Mayweather fight, and we’re in current negotiations. I ain’t stepping in that octagon again unless I’m part owner of the whole setup. I’m a promoter,” he said at a Q&A last night (Via MMAJunkie).
Again the question is raised, is this good or bad for the fighters? Obviously, a cut of the bigger profit would be fantastic for McGregor, but how/when does this make an ounce of difference to the fighters making $2.5k/$2.5K?
Should these lower tier athletes be willing to become showmen, then perhaps the eyeballs McGregor brings in could start to pay off for them. Otherwise, the casual fan will remain just that, only interested in the circus and fanfare.
Or, the overall stock of the UFC rises, as does the fighters, but now with a blueprint on how to become an overnight star.
According to UFC president Dana White, this deal is something the promotion are willing to work with:
“There’s always been as we go into negotiations with Conor. There’s always all kinds of crazy stuff out there,” White said at today’s UFC 217 press conference. “We always get deals done with Conor. Conor, he’s been easy to deal with and we’ll get it done.”
“Yeah. We’re planning on it. He said he wants to, and we want him to. So we’ll see what happens,” White added when discussing the matter with TMZ. “The kid wants some money, the kid wants some stuff. And if there’s anyone out there that’s worth it, it’s Conor McGregor. We’ve always figured it out with him and we’ll figure it out again.”
Win or Lose, McGregor is a Massive Draw
Everyone knows it, the UFC has nobody else to bring in the PPV buys right now. Georges St-Pierre vs. Michael Bisping is flying under the radar this weekend, and the Irishman’s stock rises dramatically with each interview he gives.
Nobody, not even the UFC, can touch ‘The Notorious’ right now. Will they buckle to his demands?
