Is Conor McGregor no longer the UFC money-maker he once was?
That was the question posed by reigning bantamweight world champion Sean O’Malley during a recent episode of his TimboSugarShow podcast.
It’s been more than two and a half years since fans have seen the Irishman step inside the Octagon and needless to say, patience is wearing thin. Not just with MMA fans, but with McGregor himself who has, on more than one occasion, expressed his frustration over the lack of activity.
The former two-division titleholder did exactly that over the weekend while attending the ‘Day of Reckoning‘ boxing card in Saudi Arabia.
“The lads here [in Saudi Arabia] are talking Manny [Pacquiao in boxing], the UFC aren’t talking any. … Give me something,” a frustrated McGregor told talkSPORT. “You know what I’m saying? I was supposed to be back in April [2024], I was supposed to be back in April. It was supposed to be December. They’ve never treated anyone [like this]. No one’s ever been treated [like this]. For all the figures I’ve brought in this game — I sell more than all of them combined, yeah? I sell more than every one of them combined.
“No one in the history of the fight game’s ever been treated the way I’m getting treated at this minute, yeah?” McGregor continued. “Through what I came through to what I bring, they f*cking should open floodgates for me, yeah? And I’m waiting. I’m waiting and I’m waiting. My patience is wearing thin on me waiting.”
Is Conor McGregor No Longer the Money-Maker He Once Was?
Offering his take on the situation, O’Malley suggested that perhaps the UFC is dragging their feet because it’s no longer lucrative for the promotion to put McGregor on the payroll.
“You know what’s crazy is Conor is supposedly begging for a fight. ‘Give me a fight. Let me fight, daddy.’ Conor says his patience is wearing thin over UFC inactivity. I wonder if he’s making so much money per fight that it’s not that beneficial to the UFC. Like they’re losing money when he fights. I wonder if his deal is structured in a way where it’s like, f*ck!”
O’Malley’s coach and co-host, Tim Welch, suggested that the UFC is most likely saving its cash cow for the next big milestone event, UFC 300.
McGregor was last seen in the Octagon competing against lightweight rival Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. In the latter part of the opening round, the Irishman suffered a nasty leg break that put him on the shelf.
He has not won a bout since a January 2020 shellacking of Donald Cerrone. That first-round knockout of ‘Cowboy’ represents his only victory in both MMA and boxing dating back to 2017.
Watch the full podcast below:
