What Conor McGregor asks of the UFC, he generally gets.
Immediately after winning the featherweight title by demolishing Jose Aldo in 13 seconds, Conor McGregor looked up to the 155 lb championship rather than a defence. He was granted that request when he was matched up with then-champion Rafael dos Anjos.
Once that fight fell through and McGregor was beaten up and finished by middling lightweight Nate Diaz in a welterweight duel, he set sights on a do-over under the same conditions. It was a bumpy path complete with a brief retirement, but the Notorious’ wish was fulfilled and the two warriors ran it back at UFC 202.
After holding up the 145 lb division for nearly a year by taking back-to-back fights at 170 lbs, McGregor was allowed to keep his belt and fight Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight crown. Another knockout later and some time off, the UFC gave McGregor the opportunity to chase the money fight to trump all money fights, and now he’s boxing Floyd Mayweather.
Another knockout later and some time off, the UFC gave McGregor the opportunity to chase the money fight to trump all money fights, and now he’s boxing Floyd Mayweather.
Get in. Get rich. Get out.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 12, 2014
In the UFC 205 post-fight press conference, McGregor made two big announcements – he was taking some time off to await the birth of his child and if the UFC wanted him to stay, he wanted a larger slice of the pie. Following the landmark sale of the UFC to WME-IMG, McGregor demanded a stake in the company.
“If you want me to stick around, if you want me to keep doing what I’m doing, let’s talk. But I want ownership now. I want equal share. I want what I deserve.”
A few months shy of a year later Dana White appears to be open to the request, as he told MMAJunkie.
“It’s never been done, but anything is possible. There’s a lot of people who feel like they’re worth this, and they’re worth that – we know what this kid’s worth.”
The head says he hasn't got a hope, but the heart… https://t.co/NxD0ERQE5P
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 28, 2017
McGregor is the unicorn who smashes PPV records, takes tough fights on short notice and has done wonders for getting the UFC brand more mainstream coverage. He is good for business.
That’s why White tells the rest of the roster ‘If you’re not Conor McGregor, shut up!’ even after the Dubliner’s ‘fuck the UFC’ Instagram post was seen by the masses. However, giving McGregor an ownership stake, something that no other active fighter has ever received, could have serious consequences.
McGregor’s never pushed for a fighters union, he’s never spoken out against the controversial Reebok deal, he’s never tried to improve working conditions for fighters across the board. Everything he’s asked of the UFC has been for himself or his team, but he has done all this as a fighter.
A very dangerous game https://t.co/3sT1Qjxnra
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 28, 2017
Remember why McGregor sent that retirement tweet in the first place? It was all because he was upset with the promotion punishing him for not adhering to their unreasonable media obligation demands. His rematch against Nate Diaz was removed from UFC 200 was in retaliation for him refusing to attend a presser in Las Vegas just as his fight camp was starting.
When the UFC said ‘jump’, McGregor responded with ‘catch ya’s later.’ Although he is an employee (or independent contractor), he had the requisite power to take a stand that paid off. UFC 200 was a failure, UFC 202 was an overwhelming success.
McGregor is a company man, but he’s not the company, man. Change that dynamic now, and run the risk of losing the most vocal indirect representative of the fighters to the other side. We’re not saying McGregor hasn’t earned it, but expect a strong reaction from his fellow fighters on the roster if he achieves ownership status.
