Sean O’Malley recently offered his opinion on why Conor McGregor hasn’t yet been scheduled for a bout with the UFC. The bantamweight champion said that McGregor’s much-awaited comeback to competition may be delayed by the promotion for budgetary concerns.
Conor McGregor has been absent from the UFC octagon since his last bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. He made a comeback to the promotion earlier this year, serving as a coach on the TUF reality series with Michael Chandler.
Even though the two rival coaches were predicted to compete this year, McGregor’s exclusion from the USADA testing pool posed a significant challenge.
In October, McGregor joined the PED testing pool. This makes him eligible to participate by April 2024. However, the UFC has remained tight-lipped about McGregor’s next match. This has left fans wondering about his future opponent and the timing of his return.
During the recent ‘Day of Reckoning’ boxing event, McGregor expressed his frustration. He voiced his discontent at the UFC’s delay in arranging a bout for him. McGregor hinted at seeking alternatives, including a potential boxing match against Manny Pacquiao.
Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley recently shared his insights regarding McGregor’s prolonged absence. He speculated that financial considerations might be hindering McGregor’s comeback. O’Malley suggested that McGregor’s high earnings per bout might be a deterrent for the UFC, potentially leading to a delay in his booking.
O’Malley said on his YouTube channel: “Conor’s supposedly just begging for a fight… I wonder if he’s just making so much money per fight that it’s really just not beneficial to the UFC. Like, they’re losing money when he fights… It seems like he’s trying to get on that [UFC 300].”
As per Bloody Elbow:
Conor McGregor’s payouts
$3,285,000 (includes $2.11M discretionary bonus) vs. Chad Mendes*
$4,476,662 or $4,536,932 vs. Jose Aldo — Aldo received $2,377,699
$5,576,315 vs. Nate Diaz 1 — Diaz received $2,838,158, and the PPV event generated $61 million.
$5,615,490 vs. Nate Diaz 2 — Diaz received $4,315,490.
$6,812,374 vs. Eddie Alvarez — the PPV event generated $66 million for UFC.
O’Malley could have a point, considering that Conor McGregor is undoubtedly the greatest celebrity in mixed martial arts history. He is easily among the highest-paid combatants in the promotion’s history. According to reports, McGregor earned over $25 million from five bouts in 2015 and 2016.