Outside Source
Conor McGregor could be in line for a new UFC contract. | Bellator MMA
If Conor McGregor is to be believed, the Irish star will be entering negotiations for a new UFC contract in the near future.
In an interview on a stream, the former two-division champion claimed that the new Paramount broadcast deal eliminates pay-per-view points, which will require a reworked UFC contract. McGregor is still targeting a return at the UFC White House card, though the event has yet to be confirmed.
“I’m warming up now for the White House fight,” McGregor said (via Happy Punch). “I’m gonna be at it, for sure. It’s gonna be insane, the White House card is gonna be.
“I’m going into negotiations with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in February. I’m very interested to go. They’ve actually got a new deal with Paramount, it’s worth $7.7 billion. So the company has [quadrupled] its profit, and my contract, essentially, is void right now because there’s no more pay-per-view, whereas my contract was based on pay-per-view sales. I’m the highest-generating pay-per-view fighter of all time. The pay-per-view system is done, I’m due a new contract. So, we’re going into negotiations in February, and I’m very interested to see how it goes.”
McGregor was the UFC’s top draw under the previous pay-per-view model, in theory earning extra money for amount of buys his events sold. Under Paramount, all numbered UFC events will be available as part of a streaming service subscription with no additional cost.
McGregor hasn’t competed since July 2021, when he broke his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier. The Dublin native was slated to return at UFC 303 in June 2024, but he pulled out of a proposed matchup against Michael Chandler due to a broken toe. While McGregor seemed interested in facing Chandler at the White House, UFC CEO Dana White recently dismissed the notion of revisiting that booking.
Getting Ready
Regardless of who the opponent might be, McGregor seems to be intent on fighting on the UFC White House card — possibly with a new contract in hand.
“I’m focusing on what I can control,” McGregor said. “I’m in the gym. I’m living in the gym, focusing on my health, focusing on my rest, listening to my coaches, following the game plan. External noise is non-existent for me. I don’t absorb it. You’re aware of it, but you don’t let it seep in. Keep the internal dialogue strong. I’m here, showing the kids, showing my team what it takes. You’ve got to live it. You’ve got to live and breathe it.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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