Don’t Give In To McGregor vs Give McGregor What He Wants: Make Up Your Minds

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The UFC over the years has bowed down to the former champ champ Conor McGregor giving him everything he has ever wanted, or in some cases demanded from them. And why not, he has proven to be the ultimate cash cow for them. Breaking record after record for PPV purchases and live gates, it made sense for their business. Even though many fans, fighters, and members of the media took aim at UFC President Dana White for this preferred treatment, he brushed all of his detractors off and put the best interests of the company’s financial bottom line at the forefront, which is what he is supposed to do!

As we all know McGregor and Dustin Poirier started engaging one another via social media recently about fighting each other for a second time. Even going as far as to say it would be an exhibition match and that McGregor would donate $500,000 to Poirier’s charity. However, we all knew that this could not happen without the UFC because of contractual obligations that both fighters fall under, one which states that they are exclusive to the UFC!

Dana White offered them the fight and set a date of January 23rd, 2021. Both fighters said that they wanted the fight to take place this year, and suggested dates in November and December that net their demands to which the UFC and White said no!

 

Today White doubled down on his offered date stating that the earlies this fight could happen is January as they have booked out the rest of 2020 already and are not going to change or add any fights to any of the already planned events. Now the same folks that have continually criticized White for always giving in to McGregor are questioning why White won’t just book this fight and add it to an already existing card. White seemingly can’t win for losing!

 

For so many years everybody was sick of the preferential treatment given to McGregor over every other fighter on the roster, even though McGregor has been the straw that stirs the drink in the UFC. Now, the UFC and Dana White finally say we can’t do that right now and don’t give in to the demands of McGregor and all of a sudden everybody changes their tune, really?
Fight cards for the rest of the year have already been booked, and moving everything around for McGregor in a rematch with Dustin doesn’t make good business sense for them right now, but it does make sense for them to book that fight to open up the New Year regardless of whether fans can or can’t be in attendance.
Also, what is wrong with Dana White and the UFC wanting to save that fight to possibly get a live gate that could net the company somewhere between 15 and 20 million dollars, as well as do a big number on pay-per-view? This is a business, and that makes total sense. However, if they can’t do it with fans that fight will still take place In January as long as both fighters sign the contract!
The UFC has been doing business during a worldwide pandemic. They have, and continue to spend a ridiculous amount of money to do fights here in the states, and of course on Yas Island. They have continued to provide opportunities for their athletes to make a living and given the world a much-needed distraction from the barrage of COVID this, and COVID that, something that I feel as if many people don’t take into consideration. While they have generated some PPV revenue and sponsor revenue, they have given up live gates in order to keep their fighters working, and entertain the world at the same time. for that, we should all be grateful.
24 events so far, with zero fans in attendance equals a loss in the neighborhood of $100,000,000 dollars! 19 fight nights and 5 PPV’s that took place with no ticket revenue. My number may even be lower than the actual loss of income.
I for one, am actually for lack of a better term, proud of White for standing firm and denying McGregor’s demand to fight when he dictates and saying this is the date (January 23rd) I have and it is yours if you want it! It is the first time he has done this in quite some time and had it happened more, McGregor may not have become the diva that he has turned in to!
As far as the backlash from the fans and others, make up your damn mind! White gives in you trash him! White doesn’t give in, you trash him! You cannot have it both ways!