The Irish fighter has not appeared in the Octagon since July 2021. During that bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, McGregor suffered a severe leg injury that stopped the fight. Since then he has been recovering and waiting for the right opportunity to return.
Recently he spoke about the possibility of fighting at a special UFC event linked to the White House. According to McGregor, the idea involved a matchup with Michael Chandler.
“I was up for the White House,” McGregor told SmashCast. “I know the administration was strong for me to be at the White House. It was McGregor vs. [Michael] Chandler, the story was built in, Chandler is a standup guy, he’s electric in the cage, he comes to bring it. I’m the Mac, I’ll fly through the air on an opponent like Chandler. It would have been dynamite as far as a fight.”
However, the timing of the return is still uncertain.
“Somewhere down the line — not me ever saying ‘No’ or ‘Not enough money’ or nothing. Just, ‘Maybe we’re going to go with you for International Fight Week.’ OK, no problem. ‘Maybe we’re going to leave Chandler.’ Ah, I do like Chandler. I might have been preparing for him for the last two years. I feel a bit weird. He deserves to go after the waiting. You know if would be a great fight. It makes sense, it’s easy done, it gets me back in there, but if they’re off it, I’m not going to be too picky.
“I have to get back. I’m eager to get back. … So OK, sorry Chandler, it is what it is. …”
Waiting while decisions are made
McGregor explained that he does not control every decision about when or where he fights. Still, he believes he holds a unique place in the sport.
“I can’t decide what these men do, and I don’t want to,” McGregor added. “I don’t doubt them. It’s like in this current climate, we’re all cattle. All these fighters, we’re all cattle. I just happen to be free-range. I’m organic. I’m like wagyu walking around the fcking farm. So, I’m just waiting to be fcking wheeled out. Hopefully it’s coming soon. It’s looking like it is.”
Reaction to Conor Benn’s $15 million contract
News that caught McGregor’s attention recently involved Conor Benn signing a large one fight contract with Zuffa Boxing reportedly worth $15 million.
The Irish star used that deal to discuss the value of fighters in the current era.
“Currently, we’re in this space where we’re going from the pay-per-view model, which was my model,” McGregor said. “I ran the PPVs. I’m the only fighter in the current landscape that has 1 million PPV buys behind them. All the rest of them are a couple hundred thousand here. They’re getting these deals from outside sources, astronomical figures with no backing. They’ve done nothing in the game. Not at my level.”
McGregor helped set many of the UFC’s biggest pay per view numbers during his rise to fame. Several of his fights generated more than one million purchases.
Now the sport is entering a new phase.
“So now, we’re entering this streaming space and … I want to get in there and do that. I want to take over these streaming rankings figures and set these records. So, what does it mean to the promotion and the content provider in Paramount? It means the records, that what it means.”
The UFC recently agreed to a media partnership with Paramount, which changes how events will be delivered to viewers.
Because of this shift, McGregor believes his own value should be reconsidered.
“How much do you think it’s worth? How much do you think McGregor to return is worth? Someone said, if your man Conor fcking Benn [is worth $15 million], how much do you think McGregor is worth in this climate, factoring in inflation alone! My contract was in 2018. Every fcking thing has gone up. Even the milk and eggs, let alone inflation.
“Then you factor in that’s a big deal them boys doing. Them boys are powerful men. I have to tip my hat to that. That whole Paramount situation, even with the Paramount acquisition, [buying] Warner Brothers. It’s unbelievable. It’s colossal!
“How much do you think the Mac is worth?”
Despite the long break from competition, McGregor insists his career is far from over.
“I’m only starting,” McGregor said. “Once I can get this ball rolling, blow on this ball and get it going, push it down the hill, I’m going. I’m going for it. I have another contract, another fight after. I want to keep going. I feel with certain things in my recovery and my work, with modern-day science and backed by God, I’m gonna go to f*cking 50. I’m not bowing out of this.”
For now, the former champion continues training and waiting for the next announcement about his return to the cage.
