UFC superstar Conor McGregor has disclosed that he previously engaged in discussions for a potential two-bout agreement with undefeated boxing champion Terence Crawford. The proposed deal would have seen the two athletes face off in both mixed martial arts and boxing contests.
McGregor, who has been absent from competitive action since July 2021 due to injury, shared this information during a livestream. The Irish star explained that the initial plan involved an MMA bout followed by a boxing match.
“Crawford is very slick. He also has a wrestling pedigree,” McGregor stated. “You know, they are always talking to me about belts, I’ve already boxed a boxer. The boxer in MMA is me.”
The 36-year-old UFC star went on to describe a conversation where Crawford was contacted in his presence. McGregor recounted, “I said ‘Crawford they’re talking here about you and me two fight deal, MMA first, boxing second’. I said ‘I know you’ve got an extensive background and balls the size of a Bengali tiger. They’re asking for a contest. It’s going to be hundreds of millions on the line what’s up?'”
However, according to McGregor, the deal fell through due to Crawford’s reluctance to engage in MMA. “And he goes ‘I don’t want to take a kick off Conor McGregor’ – so you’ve got to respect that,” McGregor added.
Interestingly, Crawford had previously expressed openness to the idea of stepping into the octagon with McGregor. In a 2020 interview with TMZ Sports, the boxer stated, “Conor is a big talent in the octagon and I’m a big talent in the boxing ring. Money talks. They put that money up, yeah I’ll go over there and compete with him.”
Crawford, who boasts an impressive 41-0 record in professional boxing, has held multiple world championships across four weight classes. His most recent victory came in August when he defeated Israil Madrimov by unanimous decision.
As for McGregor, fans eagerly await his return to competition. While he initially targeted a comeback in December, UFC CEO Dana White has indicated that the Irishman’s return is more likely to occur in early 2025.
Speaking to DAZN, McGregor expressed his determination to compete twice in the coming year. “It will be 2025. We will see. My opponent that I had scheduled… it is what it is. I take it on board and rock on,” he said. “My job is to go to the gym and be in shape. Whenever it is and wherever it is. I will be 100 percent ready. I must get two contests in 2025. It’s the promised land.”
As the combat sports world continues to speculate about McGregor’s next move, the possibility of a cross-disciplinary showdown with Crawford adds an intriguing dimension to the conversation. While the initial talks may not have materialized, the mere prospect of such an event highlights the ongoing appeal of high-profile matchups that blur the lines between different combat disciplines.
