In what seems to be a never-ending story, the UFC lightweight champion’s future is again in doubt. Without trying to sound like a broken record, McGregor’s fans are not going to like this…
The UFC and Conor McGregor are in a truly unique position right now. After ‘The Notorious’ made massive bank in a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, the Irishman demanded equity in the UFC or he wouldn’t be fighting again.
Allowing McGregor out of his contractual obligations to box Mayweather was financially beneficial to the UFC, but at what cost? Having made a cool (estimated) $100 million for the spectacle with Mayweather, ‘The Notorious’ is reportedly proving hard to bargain with.
Interesting questions are raised, most importantly for the interim champion is when McGregor will be returning. The bigger picture includes fighter rights, rankings and the potential expansion of the Ali act into MMA.
What a drama McGregor is involved with again! But it gets deeper, read on below…
Daniel Cormier, Khabib Nurmagomedov Have Some Big News
According to UFC light-heavyweight champion and undefeated lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov, McGregor vs. Ferguson is completely off the table. ‘El Cucuy’ defeated Kevin Lee at UFC 216 for the junior belt.
Obviously, a unification match seemed certain, but as you’ll read from DC, Khabib and MMA insider Dave Meltzer, negotiations between the promotion and ‘The Notorious’ appear to have fallen apart.
Firstly, here’s Cormier’s Instagram post about the situation:
dc_mma: So I walk into the gym today and @khabib_nurmagomedov walks up and says the @Ufc is wanting to make me vs @tonyfergusonxt for dec 30. They wanna make the card bigger for end of the year. Then he tells me that tony is saying no to the fight. Come on Tony, that ain’t gangsta bruh. Take the fight man!!!!
And by the way Ufc says tony won’t ever fight Conor so that’s not an option. The fans really want it. Come on My friend, hit him with that low single u always talk about. #khabibchamp#weareaka
Although ‘The Eagle’ is scheduled to face Edson Barboza at UFC 219, we know how the UFC is willing to cancel fights for bigger fights. Should Cormier’s comments prove true, this could be absolutely huge in many respects.
As per Dave Meltzer, negotiations are not going very well at all:
Meltzer: “McGregor-Ferguson talks were going back&forth & were frustrating – UFC agreed to what he wanted, then he’d change what he wanted.”
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) November 24, 2017
McGregor vs. Ferguson is DEAD???
Doesn’t seem like Cormier, a company man through and through would make something like this up. You’ll remember we were meant to have the news of a huge UFC 219 main event broken a couple weeks back.
After McGregor basically lost his mind at Bellator 187, the announcement never came. Then John Kavanagh said McGregor would be out six months, and now DC and ‘The Eagle drop this bombshell.
Many indicators now are pointing towards everything BUT a McGregor vs. Ferguson unification bout. From the moment Ferguson won the interim belt, this whole situation has been a complete mess!
