Conor McGregor wants to make some big moves.
The public negotiation period has begun. When Conor McGregor was knocked out by Floyd Mayweather in their August superfight, much speculation has been made over the irishman’s next move. He owns the UFC Lightweight belt and ostensibly is required to defend it, but a match against Interim champion Tony Ferguson is far from his most lucrative potential endeavor. Now Conor has taken to the media, making it clear that for a return to the UFC, he wants a bigger stake in the game.
Speaking to reporters outside the premiere of his documentary “Notorious” on Wednesday night in Dublin, McGregor reiterated that he’s keeping his options open, while in negotiations with the UFC.
“We’ll see,” he said. “We’re in the process of negotiations, there’s a couple of opponents across different sports now in play, there’s the boxing game also.”
McGregor has stated several times over the past couple years he ultimately wants an equity stake in the UFC. His company, McGregor Promotions was listed as one of the promotional partners in the Mayweather fight.
He clearly doesn’t feel comfortable being just another fighter on the UFC roster.
“We’re in the contract negotiation stage,” McGregor said. “It’s got to, they’ve got to entice me now because, I came from a billion-dollar fight. I want equity, I want pay-per-view. I want to be a true partner. You have to entice me now. I want to be a partner. I want to be a promoter and I want to be a fighter for me to continue.”
Footage comes via SevereMMA.
McGregor’s negotiating position is uncertain. The UFC likely needs him less than he needs the UFC, and in order for McGregor to keep expanding his brand he needs to be taken seriously as a champion. Furthermore, negotiation with the UFC’s new corporate owners WME-IMG will be far more difficult than it would have been with Zuffa, run by the Fertitta brothers, personal friends of Conor. In any case, hopefully the situation will be resolved soon and the fans can see Conor back in the Octagon where they grew to admire him.
Do you think Conor McGregor will get a stake in the UFC?
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