Conor McGregor’s bold wager paid off handsomely as he secured a $200,000 windfall from a $1 million bet on the main event’s outcome. The Irish MMA superstar accurately predicted a knockout finish in the headline bout between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr.
Pereira, the two-weight UFC champion, delivered the decisive blow in the fourth round with a devastating right uppercut, sealing McGregor’s lucrative bet. The former double champion took to social media to celebrate his win, exclaiming, “The rich get richer! Called it play by play! What a fighter, Poatan! Incredible!”
However, McGregor’s elation quickly turned to frustration during Pereira’s post-fight interview. Initially full of praise for the Brazilian fighter’s performance, McGregor’s mood shifted dramatically when Pereira expressed contentment with remaining in the light heavyweight division, despite previous hints at moving up to challenge Jon Jones for the heavyweight title.
In a now-deleted video that has since circulated online, McGregor can be seen reacting to Pereira’s comments from home. He initially lauded the champion’s technique, stating, “They’re lean-backs, yeah? No feet, the feet aren’t going back there. He’s not even stepping back, it’s a lean-back. You’re still right in front of him, boom!”
The Irishman’s admiration continued as he acknowledged the difficulty Rountree Jr. faced: “Rountree Jr. is as tough… A lot of weapons. He couldn’t let them go over there… The inside low kicks, the outside low kicks. That was a tremendous bout, yeah! Incredible.”
However, McGregor’s tone changed abruptly when Pereira dismissed the idea of moving up to heavyweight. Visibly agitated, McGregor urged, “Heavyweight… You call for heavyweight, now!” He then expressed disappointment at the suggestion of Pereira potentially dropping down to middleweight, exclaiming, “Don’t lie to yourself. It was a heavy-weight cut.”
The video’s sudden deletion and subsequent re-uploads by fans have added an air of intrigue to McGregor’s passionate reaction. As the MMA world buzzes with speculation about Pereira’s next move, McGregor’s unexpected outburst has certainly added fuel to the fire of debate surrounding weight class transitions in the UFC.
Alex Pereira is still your Light Heavyweight Champion of the world pic.twitter.com/tFPw8SDES6
— Jason Williams (@jasoneg33) October 6, 2024
