White: UFC 200 ‘ship has sailed’
White will meet with McGregor in Los Angeles.
[We] are having dinner with Conor McGregor. So tonight at like, 10 (p.m.), I’ll have a lot more answers on the Conor McGregor situation…[Conor] will not be on UFC 200. Not at all. That ship sailed. But we’ve put that behind us, and we’re in a good place with Conor, and we’re looking to make his next fight. We should have that done tonight.
McGregor, White meet in LA
McGregor and White meet at the Montage hotel in Beverly Hills. McGregor arrives in a Rolls-Royce Phantom drophead coupe and is personally greeted by White. The two men hug, and then have a two-hour private dinner.
McGregor: Relationship with UFC ‘in a good place’
McGregor says his meeting with White went well.
I met with Dana and Mr. Fertitta, good conversation like it always is. We have a good relationship. It is what it is. It happens. This is the fight game. Sometimes emotions get into it but it’s important to recognize that emotions have no place in business. We just set it aside. There’s no place for emotions in this. We are doing beautiful things so let’s continue. Let’s fix it and continue…I’d say [our relationship] is nice and in the middle. In a good place.
Report: Mayweather offers McGregor $50m to fight
TMZ reports that Mayweather has offered McGregor $50 million for a fight, which is to be held on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas. The report says that Dan White has not been contacted by Mayweather, and that White may not accept such a deal because in three critical Pay-Per-View markets — Europe, Australia and Canada — McGregor is a bigger star than Mayweather. Forbes estimates that Mayweather earned $285 million for his bout against Pacquiao, who took home $125 million. McGregor reportedly earned about $10 million against Nate Diaz.
Diaz walks from White meeting
A meeting between White and Diaz in Stockton, CA, ends with Diaz walking out angrily. Sources say the meeting, which started friendly, was to discuss terms for Diaz vs. McGregor, and that Diaz left because he was not happy with the financial arrangement. White:
Obviously I’m not going to disclose details of the deal, but let’s just say my trip to Stockton didn’t go well.
Rose: Mayweather-McGregor will happen in 2017
On his Jalen and Jacoby radio show, Rose says Mayweather-McGregor will happen in 2017, although he declines to name his sources.
I got some breaking news, the Floyd and McGregor fight is going to happen. Floyd and McGregor will probably announce in a month. It will be in May, the same weekend as the Kentucky Derby, in 2017. I’ve already booked my room in Vegas for the first weekend of May for this fight. The only way it doesn’t happen , is if the combatants and/or the business changes going forward. But as of now, all signs lead to this happening.
On McGregor’s contract:
Basically what they will do is that [the UFC] will get the same percentage as if he was fighting on a UFC card.
Sister: Family in reality show discussions
McGregor’s sister Erin, says that the family are in talks to create a reality TV show, that would include home life, her business ventures and the final countdown as she prepares to give birth later this year.
It’s something I would definitely, definitely want to do. I think there’s a great market out there for a new reality show for Irish people.
ESPN Sportscenter interview Part 1
McGregor is interviewed by Mane for ESPN Sportscenter. McGregor talks about the controversy around UFC 200.
It was a publicized civil war. I was going through some things, there was some crazy stuff going on back home…I didn’t say no to everything. I just wanted to do reasonable media. And then all of a sudden, we’ve got to drag you 40-hour flights to do a runaround — New York, Vegas, California – 70 press conferences, 70 talk show, adverts, all of this. I only made you $400 million last week! I need to get right. I wanted to focus, and I was deep in the process. I just wanted a little bit more time…And they weren’t havin’ it. They were trying to push back on me. I was trying to push back on them…and it blew up then.
On his Twitter announcement
It blew up! I was kinda having fun with that. At the start it was kind of half hearted. And then all of a sudden, ‘You’re off UFC 200!’ I was like, ‘well f-k you too then!’ Seeing it all blow up like that, it was amusing for a while. There was times, seeing the press conference taking place, I thought I should’ve just jumped on the damn flight, but sometimes you’ve gotta do what’s right for you, and not what’s right for everyone else. And especially if you’ve done what’s right for everybody else a million times, you should have the right to do something for yourself.
ESPN Sportscenter interview Part 2
In the second part of McGregor’s interview on ESPN Sportscenter, he talks to Mane about Mayweather.
I hear the boy talking. The leak came out. It was him that leaked it. He gets $100 million and I get $7 million. That’s a paycut to me. I don’t take paycuts. I thought boxing was where the money was at. $7 million is laughable. I’m also talking $100 million. Who doesn’t want to conquer both worlds? He’s getting old now. I have the size, I have the reach, I have the height. I have the youth. He needs me. I don’t need him. That’s the truth of it. He fights someone else in boxing realm, the pay goes from $100 million to $15 million. He needs me. If he wants to talk he can talk, but it’s me who’s in control here.
Carvalho’s death affected promotions
In an interview with ESPN, McGregor says he was deeply affected by the death of Carvalho.
I had f—— journalists knocking down my mother’s door, you know what I mean? That’s not what I signed up to do — have people knocking on my mother’s door, talking about a kid dying. It’s not nice to see a kid die like that. It does something to you. And there’s been show after show canceled in Ireland since that. It’s f—– up to be a part of it, and I didn’t want to bring it back up and put it more on a public scale. After all that, I did not want to be put in front of a camera and made to dance. I just wasn’t feeling it.
RIZIN CEO: McGregor, Rousey great for Japan
Sakakibara says McGregor and Rousey would be welcomed in Japanese MMA.
He would do fantastic. The fans would go crazy over him. Their style, Conor and Ronda, given the weight class and divisions of who they are, being able to make such a huge success financially, that has changed history within the fight game.
Will appear on ESPN Magazine’s ‘Body Issue’
ESPN announces that McGregor will appear in this year’s ESPN The Magazine‘s “Body Issue,” an annual collection of photographs of famous athletes in either nude or semi-nude conditions. Prior UFC stars to appear have included Jon Jones, Ronda Rousey, and Miesha Tate. The full roster of athletes to be featured in the magazine will be released June 20, with the issue on sale from July 8.
Conor McGregor will appear in the Body Issue.
A look at MMA stars who have bared it all: https://t.co/GFE0efjVXO pic.twitter.com/JNCstloAVA
— ESPN (@espn) May 23, 2016
Cowherd: McGregor-Mayweather on Sept 17
Cowherd says on his show that Mayweather vs. McGregor will take place the weekend of Sept. 17, 2016, in Las Vegas.
I think Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather will be a lopsided fight. Mayweather is a boxer. Boxers can’t beat him. Conor McGregor is not going to beat him — it is a payday. I have already booked two rooms for Sept. 17 and 18 in Las Vegas, My intel is Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather is going to happen. It changed late last week. I got a call, then somebody else sent me something yesterday and Saturday and we booked rooms in Vegas….I don’t think it’s will be a good fight. But it will be an event.
Budweiser ad pulled
Ireland’s Advertising Standards Authority says complaints against a Budweiser ad featuring McGregor have been upheld. McGregor was the face of a competition which offered customers the opportunity to win €50,000 to travel to America to “fulfil their dreams”. Complainants said the ad was “irresponsible and inappropriate” because it linked a role model for children to alcohol, and that MMA was an “aggressive sport” and that linking it to an alcohol product was sending out a “dangerous message” to young children. The ASAI agreed with the complaints, saying the MMA star was a hero for young people and that the advertisement “should not be used in the same format again”.
Jeffries: McGregor can beat Mayweather
Jeffries says he was impressed by McGregor’s boxing ability.
He had really good boxing knowledge, amazing footwork, and he was very athletic and elusive. I thought his boxing was going to be amateur level, but he could beat a lot of professional fighters. Conor would beat some very high-talent professionals…I’ve totally changed my opinion. I thought about the [Mayweather] fight a lot. Conor, with how elusive he is and his style, he’s tough as well. What people don’t realise with Conor is that he’s got an iron jaw. Yes, he was rocked once by one of the best boxers in the UFC in Nate Diaz. He got caught with a solid right hand with a four-ounce glove. He got rocked, but who wouldn’t? I give him a shot [at beating Mayweather]. He’s fit, strong, has a tough chin, and one thing about Floyd is that he’s not a puncher, and they’re wearing bigger gloves. Floyd’s hardest fight was with Maidana. McGregor has a similar ‘rough’ sort of style. I don’t think it’s as one-sided as people think it is.
Diaz: McGregor-Mayweather talk cover up for an ‘ass whooping’
In an interview on MMA Hour, Diaz says the UFC is targeting the McGregor rematch for UFC 202. Diaz:
I’ll whoop both McGregor and Mayweather in the same night. Now they’re talking that Mayweather shit, it’s all a cover up. It’s all trying to hide the fact that he got his ass whooped and that they want to buy him more time to get better if we are going to fight. I think the Mayweather thing’s a publicity stunt…I’m the only one out of the three of us that will say I will whoop both of their asses in one night. Cause Conor can’t say that. Floyd definitely cannot say that. You want a real fight, put me with one of those boxers and I guarantee you I can beat them in boxing.
On fight negotiations with Dana White:
I said that was one of the biggest fights you’ve ever had on 10 days’ notice, and he’s the biggest draw that you’ve ever had and I just beat your biggest draw. So if you don’t mind, I would like to be compensated better than I was the last time or what they were trying to offer me.
Taunts Mayweather on Instagram
McGregor taunts Mayweather on Instagram.
I smell like a brand new car, wearing brand new clothes. Why would I ever give a f*ck, about you gossiping hoes. #TheFaceOfRollsRoyce#50Rolls#MoneyMcGregorWhatsFloydGonnaDo? #TakeAllTheirNames#DoNothing@rollsroycecarsna#ThanksForTheCheese
https://www.instagram.com/p/BF0aAjDrzjD/
Machado: Kutcher could beat McGregor
Jujitsu trainer Machado says McGregor, a brown belt, wouldn’t stand a chance against Kutcher, a purple belt, in a grappling match. Machado has trained Chuck Norris.
I put all my money (on) Ashton Kutcher. I think he could do really, really good. He’s 200 pounds, 6-2, 6-3, he’s the best…Ashton Kutcher, for me, is my No. 1 student. He’s a purple belt but he has a really good background in wrestling. I think he has a chance to be one of the top guys in jiu-jitsu.
Tate to McGregor ‘Don’t get big headed’
Tate has some advice for McGregor.
He has done amazing things for our sport and he’s a huge piece in all of this, he really is. He’s a star. He’s a great fighter, he’s a great talker, he’s hilarious, he sells cards well. Nobody can refute that. But when you say, ‘someone deserves a break or special treatment,’ I don’t disagree with that. My point is he already gets that. A lot. They wanted to fly him out three months before UFC 200 in a private jet where he could have up to twenty people come with him. No one else gets that. Nobody else. That is preferential treatment. That is special. The UFC has gone above and beyond to accommodate him and you’ve got to think about this too: how did Conor McGregor become Conor McGregor? If there was no UFC you wouldn’t know who he was. It’s been a mutual effort on both their parts. The UFC has spent a tremendous amount of money promoting Conor McGregor and he’s made a lot of money — for himself and for them — but it’s teamwork. They’re both working hard to create something great and it has been great but don’t change now Conor. Stay the course. This is what you’ve been doing this is what got you here. Don’t get big headed and now think that you’re above it because I think that’s the downfall…Maybe there will never be another Conor McGregor like him, but there will be more stars to come.
Atlas: McGregor needs years of training to beat Mayweather
ESPN Boxing Ringside Analyst, Atlas, says that McGregor cannot beat Mayweather, even with years of training.
First off, I wouldn’t [train him]. He has no chance in a traditional boxing match. His only chance would be with MMA rules, where he could try to bring Floyd to the mat where he could — of course — easily be the victor. He would need about five years — and I’m being very generous and conservative — of boxing training and experience to even entertain the thought of being competitive with any A-plus-level boxer…If I did train him, at this point I’m not sure what I’d have him do, but I’m sure of what I would not have him do: I wouldn’t have him just attack like the caveman he tries to act like. Being aggressive [although there are many who would believe that is his one and only chance] would not be my advice. He would simply bring on his demise quicker, and you don’t attack a great defensive counter puncher, especially when you are so crude. I would have [him] try and get Floyd to come forward. Teach [McGregor] how to step back and counter, hoping to get Floyd to perhaps be so overconfident that he might be drawn into a trick punch. In other words, a sneak punch.