Popular podcast hosts from the Full Send Podcast believe Conor McGregor may be strategically leveraging public pressure to secure favorable terms in his UFC contract negotiations, particularly regarding his rumored appearance at the upcoming White House card.
During a recent episode, the hosts discussed McGregor’s announcement on Fox News that he would be competing at the highly anticipated White House event. However, they expressed skepticism about whether the deal was actually finalized, suggesting the Irish superstar might be employing calculated public relations tactics.
“I think he’s going to be on the card, but I don’t think it’s like he’s smart because he could have not been locked in and then when he says it on Fox News and gets the fans behind him,” one host explained. “Well, that’s what I think he’s doing. I think that it’s probably in the final stages. And they’re probably maybe bickering over final final points, but McGregor’s just getting ahead of it and he’s kind of pressuring them.”
The podcast hosts theorized that McGregor’s public declaration creates significant expectations among fans worldwide, potentially forcing the UFC’s hand in negotiations. By announcing his participation on a major news platform, McGregor appears to be setting a public narrative that would be difficult for the promotion to contradict without facing backlash.
“And now he’s setting the expectation to like the fan base in the entire world that it’s like, yo, I’m on the card,” the discussion continued, highlighting how the announcement puts additional pressure on UFC executives.
The White House card represents a historic moment for mixed martial arts, with only 5,000 seats available compared to typical UFC events that accommodate 25,000 spectators.
McGregor’s position in these negotiations is particularly interesting given his contractual situation. The former champion has acknowledged having only two matches remaining on his current UFC deal, with the White House bout potentially being one of them.
During the podcast, the Nelk Boys also offered their predictions for the three most likely main event scenarios for this historic fight card.
Their first prediction centers on Conor McGregor returning as the headliner, facing an opponent yet to be determined.
Their second prediction involves Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall, despite Dana White’s recent comments expressing distrust toward Jones. The hosts suggested this could be posturing between White and Jones, with both sides negotiating behind the scenes. They believe the UFC ultimately wants Jones on this historic card, making this matchup a strong possibility despite the apparent tensions.
The third potential main event they discussed would be Ilia Topuria versus Islam Makhachev, contingent on how various title match play out leading up to the July event. This represents what they called a potential “super fight” between champions from different weight classes.
