A surprising source recently offered up an interesting explanation for why Conor McGregor’s UFC return continues to be delayed.
After fracturing his leg in a second straight loss to Dustin Poirier in the summer of 2021, it took over a year and a half before Conor McGregor’s next fight was booked. Early in 2023 fans were thrilled when it was revealed that he would face fan-favorite Michael Chandler after the pair hosted a season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Related: Conor McGregor next fight – Who could “Notorious” face in his UFC return?
However, an official fight date was never revealed. Then reports suggested a scrap was being held up by the Irishman’s reluctance to get back into the company’s drug testing pool. New Year’s came and went without a date for Chandler vs. McGregor. Then in the spring, it was revealed that the pair would headline a pay-per-view card in July.
However, just a couple of weeks before the bout, “Notorious” pulled out, surprisingly, with a broken pinkie toe. It was another moment that added to the growing narrative that McGregor wasn’t being honest about making a return to the Octagon. And he was just using the publicity to keep his name in the spotlight.
However, in a summer edition of his podcast, Jake Paul of all people suggested it is actually the UFC, not McGregor, that is delaying a fight from being made.
- Conor McGregor record: 22-6 (19 KOs, 1 submission)
Jake Paul claims UFC delaying Conor McGregor’s return over TV deal
“So, Conor has two fights left on his fight deal but the UFC is trying to renew their rights deal because they license their fight content to platforms,” Paul began by saying. “So they are trying to renew. They are negotiating with multiple platforms, but let’s say it’s ESPN. They are trying to renew the deal and get the most amount of money.
“A part of that negotiating is saying we have Conor McGregor for two more fights. But if he were to fight now, that wouldn’t be a part of the negotiation. The company would be like, ‘You only have Conor for one more fight.’ So that’s why Conor’s not fighting right now. And this is what they do to the fighters.”
Paul also added that UFC fighters are almost incentivized to lose. Because many of the contracts they have include “triggers” that lock them into future fighters after victories.
The theory does make a lot of sense. Conor McGregor is one of the most famous fighters on the planet. And being able to use him as a bargaining chip in media rights negotiations is very valuable. The company’s current deal with ESPN ends in 2025. Most major companies negotiate new pacts a year before their current ones end.
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