After becoming $30 million richer for getting beat by Floyd Mayweather back in August, it's been kinda quiet for Conor McGregor. But don't take his silence as a sign that McGregor's just chilling in a room full of money (although that's more than likely something he's doing). He's been plotting on his next move, which appears to be becoming an MMA fight promoter with the UFC.
According to MMA Junkie, McGregor let this be known during a Q&A before a screening of his Notorious biopic in Dublin this week. "I was promoter on the Mayweather fight," McGregor said, "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."
Does that sound wild? Yes and no. Sure, any fight Mayweather's going to be in is automatically a spectacle, but Mayweather-McGregor was the talk of all of the towns, and that's partially because of how much people enjoyed McGregor's contributions to the buildup for the bout. Still and all, the UFC might not feel they need to get McGregor in a promotional capacity, which is fair.
The fight in question would likely be McGregor going up against Tony Ferguson for the UFC lightweight title, and McGregor said he understands why the UFC would be trying to make this fight happen before the end of 2017.
"They’re trying to get me back before the end of the year," McGregor said, "to make the company money so they can re-service the debt after the big $4.2 billion sale and all this bollocks, and I’m sitting there watching them type of wars I came through, back-to-back-to-back, and watching how I got there, and I’m like, I need to take my time here. I’m in no hurry. I’m in a great position. I’m in the forever money stage now. My money is up there rattling around in the money counter machine, so I’m good."
A little too much behind-the-scenes drama from the UFC champ? No doubt, but controversy sells—which is why McGregor thinks he can bankroll his gift of gab into a lucrative seat at the UFC promotional chair.
