Official Conor McGregor thread (part 2). **Read warning in 1st post**

That_Guy

The MMA world sure knows how to distract me from studying at bad times. I'm out of here. A prize for the most outlandish speculative post on my return.

JustShon

FutureGuy wrote: »

I would be stunned of WWE haven't already reached out to him. $20-30m for 12-13 appearances and a Wrestlemania fight.

He's a clever businessman. It makes a ton of sense.

I puked in my mouth a bit just thinking about him doing WWE.

fermanagh_man

Wonder how long UFC wait before making Aldo vs Edgar for the "vacant title"

dashoonage

fermanagh_man wrote: »

Wonder how long UFC wait before making Aldo vs Edgar for the "vacant title"

lunch time id say

Wrongway1985

That_Guy wrote: »

I think I'm right in saying that Nick Diaz didn't do much promotional stuff for his fight against GSP and still fought.

I wonder if this is the UFC taking no shít ahead of their marquee event this year.

Nick was slated to fight GSP immediately, Diaz didn't bother catch the flight they'd paid for him to appear for media stuff. GSP Diaz for title pulled from UFC 137, Diaz given BJ Penn instead.

JustShon

fermanagh_man wrote: »

Wonder how long UFC wait before making Aldo vs Edgar for the "vacant title"

That depends on whether Conor will ever fight again or not. We've little to no detail on the retirement thing.

If he's truly retired and will never fight at UFC then I think making Aldo vs Edgar at 200 a title fight is the right thing to do.

If he's not actually retiring (still a possibility) or not retiring yet then I think he should be made to defend the title next fight. Especially if he intends to make have one last fight before retiring proper, it would be unfair not to give Aldo or Edgar another shot at him imo.

Monokne

FutureGuy wrote: »

I would be stunned of WWE haven't already reached out to him. $20-30m for 12-13 appearances and a Wrestlemania fight.

He's a clever businessman. It makes a ton of sense.

1) He's under UFC contract, you can't just retire and break that. Ask Randy Couture...
2) The economics of that don't make any sense at all. Given WWE effectively doesn't run pay per view anymore and the absolute most they can get out of new network subscribers would be 10 bucks for a McGregor match at Wrestlemania, they would need his apperance to generate THREE MILLION new network subscribers just to cover that cost alone, without making a penny profit. Considering this years show did 1.45 million subscribers, and their weekly TV show only does 3 - 3.5 million viewers, it's completely impossible to expect him to do those numbers.

So unfortunately, this won't be happening any time soon & not for the figures you've floated.

Cathy.C

Did anyone else notice Dana making a point of saying that this shows how he doesn't pander to Conor as he has been accused of? He/UFC had been criticized for merely granting Conor this rematch, as has the fact that it was given top billing at a momentous UFC event, particularly when it wasn't a title fight.

He also would have foreseen that if he did allow Conor to skip promo, press calls and photo shoots leading up to July 9th, the accusations of him being Conor's B would have just got worse. A tail wagging the dog for sure and so I'd say there was also a good chance that this hiccup could have been seen as a way for Dana to backtrack and regain some credibility for the UFC, which they for sure had been losing a little or at least appeared to be.

rob316

Here goes my unsupported theory. Conor was upset about that Portugese lad dying in the cage last week, the Mrs said maybe you should think about packing it in, Conor agrees says he'll only do the fight for $10m. White says no so he "retires".

Conor has made more money than he can ever spend and he can live off his name for another couple of years without doing a tap. If he want to take a run at WWE, Vince will pay him whatever he wants. He can do a couple of movies no matter how **** they are. His options are endless and all probably better than getting a beating from Diaz again. It was stupid fight to take in the first place maybe he finally realized it too.

lougal88

Monokne wrote: »

1) He's under UFC contract, you can't just retire and break that. Ask Randy Couture...
2) The economics of that don't make any sense at all. Given WWE effectively doesn't run pay per view anymore and the absolute most they can get out of new network subscribers would be 10 bucks for a McGregor match at Wrestlemania, they would need his apperance to generate THREE MILLION new network subscribers just to cover that cost alone, without making a penny profit. Considering this years show did 1.45 million subscribers, and their weekly TV show only does 3 - 3.5 million viewers, it's completely impossible to expect him to do those numbers.

So unfortunately, this won't be happening any time soon & not for the figures you've floated.

1) He absolutely CAN retire, whether under UFC contract or not. Contracts have retirement clauses. He is not a slave.

JustShon

Cathy.C wrote: »

Did anyone else notice Dana making a point of saying that this shows how he doesn't pander to Conor as he has been accused of? He/UFC had been criticized for merely granting Conor this rematch, as has the fact that it was given top billing at a momentous UFC event, particularly when it wasn't a title fight.

He also would have foreseen that if he did allow Conor to skip promo, press calls and photo shoots leading up to July 9th, the accusations of him being Conor's B would have just got worse. A tail wagging the dog for sure and so I'd say there was also a good chance that this hiccup could have been seen as a way for Dana to backtrack and regain some credibility for the UFC, which they for sure had been losing a little or at least appeared to be.

I think Conor pushed his luck with them. He forgot that he gets away with making ridiculous demands because he makes money for them. Part of that making money for them involves taking part in their marketing. If he's refusing to help them to make their money then he loses a chunk of his bargaining power.

Easy Rod

lougal88 wrote: »

1) He absolutely CAN retire, whether under UFC contract or not. Contracts have retirement clauses. He is not a slave.

I think he means you can't 'retire' and sign with another promotion or the WWE for that matter.

martyos121

lougal88 wrote: »

1) He absolutely CAN retire, whether under UFC contract or not. Contracts have retirement clauses. He is not a slave.

You do realise Randy Couture is still under contract with UFC for two fights? He said so himself last year, he can't fight anywhere else until he completes those fights, which is just never going to happen for obvious reasons. If he was 20 years younger and in this situation, he'd still have to fight twice under Zuffa before he could leave for another company. McGregor is in the same boat, only not decades past his peak and in prime physical condition to fight.

I would be surprised if there wasn't a clause in UFC contracts that treats pro-wrestling matches in a similar fashion. If Conor ever wanted to have a pro-wrestling match with any promotion, he'd more than likely have to complete his remaining contracted fights for Zuffa or pay a huge fee to terminate his contract.

Roar

JustShon wrote: »

I think Conor pushed his luck with them. He forgot that he gets away with making ridiculous demands because he makes money for them. Part of that making money for them involves taking part in their marketing. If he's refusing to help them to make their money then he loses a chunk of his bargaining power.

He also lost a chunk of that bargaining power when Diaz dismantled him too.

A Shaved Duck?

IS he scared to fight diaz?

Depp

martyos121 wrote: »

You do realise he's still under contract with UFC for two fights? He said so himself last year, he can't fight anywhere else until he completes those fights, which is just never going to happen for obvious reasons. If he was 20 years younger and in this situation, he'd still have to fight twice under Zuffa before he could leave for another company.

I would be surprised if there wasn't a clause in UFC contracts that treats pro-wrestling matches in a similar fashion. If Conor ever wanted to have a pro-wrestling match with any promotion, he'd more than likely have to fight twice for Zuffa or pay a huge fee to terminate his contract.

itd be very irresponsible of the ufc to sign a 7 year old

JustShon

Roar wrote: »

He also lost a chunk of that bargaining power when Diaz dismantled him too.

And Diaz gained some power in that exchange.

I think the refusing to do the marketing is a bigger loss of power for McGregor though. It's essentially their money printing machine refusing to print money for them, of course they're going to get stroppy with him for that.

Kur4mA

A Shaved Duck? wrote: »

IS he scared to fight diaz?

He's the one that demanded the rematch so I doubt it.

martyos121

Depp wrote: »

itd be very irresponsible of the ufc to sign a 7 year old

I'm talking about Couture, I crucially left that out of the beginning of my post until I noticed and changed it.

UsedToWait

JustShon wrote: »

He didn't pull out, he was pulled.

That's a bit of a Saipan argument..
Same as the Keane fans insisting McCarthy sent him home, and the anti-Keanes saying he walked..

I think it's fair to say he knew the consequences of not doing the press junket - as other posters have said, there's a precedent for a fighter being pulled for the same thing..

Depp

martyos121 wrote: »

I'm talking about Couture, I crucially left that out of the beginning of my post until I noticed and changed it.

haha i couldnt resist :D

martyos121

Depp wrote: »

haha i couldnt resist :D

I'd do the same tbh.

JustShon

UsedToWait wrote: »

That's a bit of a Saipan argument..
Same as the Keane fans insisting McCarthy sent him home, and the anti-Keanes saying he walked..

I think it's fair to say he knew the consequences of not doing the press junket - as other posters have said, there's a precedent for a fighter being pulled for the same thing..

Yeah but it's not like he wimped out because he's scared of Diaz like some people are making out.

It's more likely to have been along the lines of:

Dana: We need you to do your bit in the marketing
Conor: Don't wanna, training in Iceland.
Dana: You're obliged to do this, we'll pull you from the fight if you don't.
Conor: You wouldn't dare, I'm your big star.
Dana: You're off the card.

lougal88

martyos121 wrote: »

You do realise Randy Couture is still under contract with UFC for two fights? He said so himself last year, he can't fight anywhere else until he completes those fights, which is just never going to happen for obvious reasons. If he was 20 years younger and in this situation, he'd still have to fight twice under Zuffa before he could leave for another company. McGregor is in the same boat, only not decades past his peak and in prime physical condition to fight.

I would be surprised if there wasn't a clause in UFC contracts that treats pro-wrestling matches in a similar fashion. If Conor ever wanted to have a pro-wrestling match with any promotion, he'd more than likely have to complete his remaining contracted fights for Zuffa or pay a huge fee to terminate his contract.

You wouldn't be surprised but we don't actually know.
None of us know what is actually in his contracts so its all speculation.

But since were at it, I also wouldn't be surprised given his associations/comparisons with pro-wrestling if he had such a clause removed from his contract at some point. I think Conor entering pro-wrestling was always a possibility.

On the other hand, he cant wrestle...

Falthyron

Ironically, McGregor retiring has probably delivered more attention and advertising to UFC200 than doing some promo video and photos that would probably only been seen in the U.S. Wait for the American 'twist' when McGregor 'surprises' us all with a last minute fight in July. :rolleyes:

Those crafty and devious Americans always pulling their fanciful tricks! :P

paulieeye

martyos121 wrote: »

I would be surprised if there wasn't a clause in UFC contracts that treats pro-wrestling matches in a similar fashion. If Conor ever wanted to have a pro-wrestling match with any promotion, he'd more than likely have to complete his remaining contracted fights for Zuffa or pay a huge fee to terminate his contract.

I'm sure I read a post on reddit from Shane Carwin that these clauses usually only apply to other MMA promotions

FutureGuy

Monokne wrote: »

1) He's under UFC contract, you can't just retire and break that. Ask Randy Couture...
2) The economics of that don't make any sense at all. Given WWE effectively doesn't run pay per view anymore and the absolute most they can get out of new network subscribers would be 10 bucks for a McGregor match at Wrestlemania, they would need his apperance to generate THREE MILLION new network subscribers just to cover that cost alone, without making a penny profit. Considering this years show did 1.45 million subscribers, and their weekly TV show only does 3 - 3.5 million viewers, it's completely impossible to expect him to do those numbers.

So unfortunately, this won't be happening any time soon & not for the figures you've floated.

Easy Rod wrote: »

I think he means you can't 'retire' and sign with another promotion or the WWE for that matter.

I wont pretend to know anything about UFC contracts or how to exit them. I also do think this could bea power play to get more money for his fights.

Monokne, I think you make some excellent points relating to the new WWE and their new subscription model. However, you are basing that on $10 and then everyone abandoning their subscription. Furthermore, there is still a significant percentage of customers who prefer and use the traditional PPV price of $XX per show.

Then you have merchandising - he is the UFC's biggest star and every WWE fan knows who he is. He would make the company a fortune in merchandising - remember WWE own Tapout clothing now.

Finally, WWE badly need name power. Probably more than they ever have. Comor McGregor, even with limited appearances would give them that. It would be all over the news and a massive win for Vince McMahon.

To me, that is $30m incredibly well spent.

UFC fans, please correct me if I am wrong here, but Conor is a businessman. He has always stated he is in this game for the money and when he has enough, he is gone. Simple as that.

He has just witnessed a fighter die. That must be on his mind at 27 years of age. He can continue to fight or he can do something else.

Let's paint the picture. Vince McMahon calls him and says we will give you $30m for 14 dates throughout the year and a fight at Wrestlemania next year. He can chill, keep in shape, live it up care free and learn the ropes in WWE. It doesn't have to be a technical fight like a traditional WWE fight - Mayweather did something similar ar WM24.

Compare that to what he earns in UFC and the amount of time dedicated to training etc.

As a business man, I would fully expect an offer like that to be analysed at the very least.

He is a global megastar. UFC made him but I do not feel he needs to let it define him.

I would not be at all surprised if he ended up in WWE - be has the complete package for that business.

newbbieb

lougal88 wrote: »

You wouldn't be surprised but we don't actually know.
None of us know what is actually in his contracts so its all speculation.

But since were at it, I also wouldn't be surprised given his associations/comparisons with pro-wrestling if he had such a clause removed from his contract at some point. I think Conor entering pro-wrestling was always a possibility.

On the other hand, he cant wrestle...

Brock didn't have one but given the fall out with the UFC and seemingly Conor following WWE wrestlers on twitter last night you get the feeling that he has some clause in his contract that allows him to possibly do WWE that would explain his actions in following them.

JustShon

JustShon wrote: »

Yeah but it's not like he wimped out because he's scared of Diaz like some people are making out.

It's more likely to have been along the lines of:

Dana: We need you to do your bit in the marketing
Conor: Don't wanna, training in Iceland.
Dana: You're obliged to do this, we'll pull you from the fight if you don't.
Conor: You wouldn't dare, I'm your big star.
Dana: You're off the card.

but McGregor had no problem doing any promo before.

more likely the real reason is that the UFC were not going to offer him the same sort of money deal as he was getting recently (due to the loss which despite what people may argue DOES reduce marketability, not needing McGregor's publicity as much as it's been there done that)

paulieeye

FutureGuy wrote: »

Let's paint the picture. Vince McMahon calls him and says we will give you $30m for 14 dates throughout the year and a fight at Wrestlemania next year. He can chill, keep in shape, live it up care free and learn the ropes in WWE. It doesn't have to be a technical fight like a traditional WWE fight - Mayweather did something similar ar WM24.

Wouldnt he have to gain about 20kg of muscle, those WWE fans like their boys thick, solid and tight