@@buckschlerf653 I try to square the motivations and behaviours of the people. I see way less reasons for Dana to hold up Conor for this long than for Conor to do it. The one thing I've seen make sense putting it on Dana is that he might have been using Conor as leverage for a tv deal but just to damage Conors brand? Seems like losing a lot for no reward.
I think it's clear Conor wants to fight out his contract but the UFC is not giving him fights unless he signs another contract. The UFC do this all the time. They don't want fighters fighting out there contract and going elsewhere like Francis.
@@WernerRachtman doesn't matter though. I'm not a Conor fan but no fighter "owes" their career to the UFC, they should be free to do whatever they want with their career, sure you got a contract, then you have to do what you signed up for.
Yep. In addition to this, the UFC's current broadcast deal with ESPN ends in January 2025. One would imagine that it'll be easier for UFC to negotiate a higher deal when they can promise two McGregor fights. If McGregor fought out his contract and left before then, their negotiating power drops significantly.
You guys are misremembering what happened in 2020. Connor wanted to fight but the UFC blocked him because they wanted him to fight in front of a live crowd (no apex for Connor). Connor leaked text messages with Dana where he was begging for a fight, and Dana was refusing. Dana got super pissy about the leak as well. I think Connor wants to fight but the UFC are dragging their feet over contract disputes.
Wow, I wasn’t aware of these leaked messages, thanks for bringing them up. This really makes it clear who’s preventing a McGregor fight from happening. Scummy behaviour of Dana
Exactly. Ngannou was the champ for them, and they did the exact same thing to prevent him finishing his contract. These guys might be getting paid by the UFC with the bias they showed here.
Two things could definitely be true. It just wouldn't make sense to not have the Chandler fight. I just think they had a lot more time when they started the ultimate fighter and then just said fuck it and said people will care because it's you. All of this is just so they can try and both save face until they find the next thing for Connor to do
The fact you think the UFC wouldnt want to cash in on two of the biggest MMA draws in one fight is wild. Conor has avoided the idea of fighting Chandler for awhile other than brief mentions. Conor doesn't have the drive which makes sense. But he doesn't want that public perception so he's putting the blame on the UFC
@@d04lvallier Dude wake up like they are the only two fighters who have a problem with the slave UFC contracts Ngannou etc and on top of that there's a massive trial coming up
@@d04lvallier id usually agree matey. But why would Diaz wade in on this to defend McGregor? They're not best pals or anything. Look at how long they kept Diaz benched.
Right 😂 all the while I was wondering conor never had a fight booked, thought it was clearly his side. Pull the curtain back a bit and it starts to make sense
@@aturner488 they do but they're very good at getting around that stuff by offering fights conor doesn't want, offering them in co-main slots, leaning on drug policies, offering when they know he's injured etc. That's why Francis ended up fighting Cyril Gane with a blown out knee and the UFC didn't promote the fight at all.
@@aturner488 They're probably offering him stuff they know he won't accept, so legally they've fulfilled their obligation and get to kick the can down the road.
The biggest assumption Jason is making in his argument is that Dana is perfectly rational, which means that he has never done anything only to spite someone if that means leaving money on the table... The UFC is fumbling the bag
What semi-decent leagues are there in fighting? Boxing is just as dirty, arguably moreso. Muay Thai is hardly better, with betting interests and hometown fixes having huge influences on fight scoring. BJJ competitions are rife with steroid abuse. Pancrase has a history of worked fights. Pride had it's organized criminal backers and it's fixed fights and it's "we don't drug test" clauses. I can go on and on, but fighting has always been a bit shady.
Yall have this all wrong. You are assuming the UFC has different motivations than it does. Look into their motivations considering the tv deal and how they’ve treated multiple fighters at the end of their contracts.
I’m glad most people here understand Dana is just cuffing down another high status fighter (Ngannou Diaz). People don’t shit on Dana enough in my opinion and this video was like Dana White propaganda 😂
I think you guys really dropped the ball on this topic. Do you remember in December when USDA accused UFC of trying to get Connor pushed through the drug test that he likely couldn't pass. Specifically they required a minimum 6 month wait after he entered the testing pool. That dispute allegedly caused the break up between USADA and UFC. Then a few days later Hunter and the UFC drug guy (cant remember his name) did a press conference announcing they were doing an internal drug program. Hunter was really clear that they gave all the decision making to that Army vet guy that helped with the strike on Bin laden. Hunter said that that guy was going to make all the final calls on if a fighter can fight again after PED use or when a fighter can fight again after entering the testing pool again. So... I think it's very likely that the PEDs are not out of Connors system yet and UFC is trying to stay quiet about it. Maybe even not telling Connor the results of his test cause Connor has a large mouth. This explains the lack of timeframe from Dana and Connor for when he can fight next. The UFC cannot have a PED controversy after parting ways with USADA or else that would severely hurt the reputation of the company.
because Dana is greedy and doesn’t want to pay him so much and doesn’t like the fact Conor is bigger than the UFC. no he doesn’t really have much of a chance to beat the top guys anymore but he is still the top draw. Book the damn fight with Chandler already
That's the Nate Diaz treatment: take this fight that you can win for good money, but we need to extend your contract; or take this shitty fight for much less (not the main event, no PPV money).
Conor is loyal but the UFC probably tries to force a new like 8-fight deal on him to chain him to the company. Im sure the pay is crazy good but everybody knows that he got no 8 fights in him left. Its just for the leverage to keep him sidelined. They dont want their biggest star doing boxing matches in arabia or whatever else he wants to do. They want to preserve his star power and if necessary use it to build up somebody elses career.
That’s what they did to Jon Jones. I’m a diehard JBJ fan and he signed a new contract with UFC before Gane fight(8 fight deal, when he only fought once), and Jon is planning on retiring after the Stipe match, no budging either😭. Difference is JBJ is content with being tied down to that contract vs Conor wants to fight it out and BOUNCE
I don't think conor would start his own promotion. I think he wants that saudi boxing $$. He doesn't strike me as someone who would want to deal with the business side of a promotion as much as someone who just wants to make as much money as he can.
One thought I’ve had is that they are delaying Conor because the ESPN deal is almost done, they can use that as leverage into the next deal with ESPN OR if they choose to go with someone else like a streaming service. It’s the only logical thing I can think of
The problem is Conor. Can't use that devalue tactic on Conor, he's bigger than that. Can't make Conor a reasonable offer, he's too rich for that. It's clear watching Conor partying every weekend and his commitment to TUF that he's done with fighting.
You're making this way more complicated than it is. The ESPN deal expires in 2025. Conor is the ultimate carrot the UFC can dangle in front of whoever wants to buy the TV/PPV rights for the UFC. They don't want to let him fight out his contract period, but definitely not before they negotiate the next TV deal.
Now..I am with everyone else, this is clearly a Dana/UFC problem and they are doing their normal angles to extend contracts. However, I do wonder if the lawsuits are the thing actually holding it up. A new McGregor contract whether good for him or bad for him, I'm sure the judges/prosecutors might be interested in seeing it, so perhaps the UFC is not keen on handing McGregor a fight until there are less eyes on their business practices than there are now.
I think Connor cost 20M a pop + PPV so the ufc couldn’t put him on stacked card like UFC 300 because these card will already sell by themself and i think the hype for the Chandler fight kinda faded away a now ufc will probably have to somewhat stack a card around him ….
I don't know hoy it all went from "Connor is washed, he's on the juice, he doesn't want to fight anymore, he's on cocke, he doesn't need the money" to "Dana is so unfair, the UFC is holding him back". "All Dana cares is about money, but he doesn't want to book McGregor". NOot taking Dana's side here but I imagine Connor must a be in this time someone tough to deal with, he answers to no one.
Conor wants to bounce from the UFC as quick as possible and get some of that Saudi Boxing money, but Dana wants to keep a stranglehold on him as long as possible💰🥊
turki alalshikh has said no more freakshow boxing matches! And the only way conor makes a ton from boxing is probably fighting jake Paul and thats from 12-15yr olds using their mums credit card to pay for it and that's a freak show. So I really hope Saudi don't host it. It should be held in clown world USA
The is UFC is looking out for Connor, of course. They want him to sign a new contract so he doesn't "fumble the bag" and go do Saudi boxing fights after he fights his contract out.
they have to offer a minimum # of fights I think it's 3-4 fights a year. Either Conor is turning them down, or the UFC if offering the fights at unfair times where he won't be ready to accept.
@@kastaway-m4xWhile that is partly accurate, there is no limitation on the fight the UFC offers. So they can (and do) offer fights that are contigent on extension of the fighters contract, so they fulfill their obligation but with absurd terms no person would accept. It's like offering a homeless person a dung sandwich and when they refuse to eat it, they turn around and say "He obviously didn't want to food"
What does “he has a lot of money” even mean? Dana has more money. Do we really not see the theme of kicking up dust and making the other guy look bad? These tactics are ancient but somehow they keep working.
The timing on this is terrible he just had a couple interviews saying he got a call off the ufc and it’s chandler in summer probably international fight week June 29th
@@specstar8724 this isn’t a tease mate he’s literally said he got confirmation of the fight with chandler in the summer from the ufc watch the interviews
You guys can't be that dumb... It's obviously the UFC stalling trying to get McGregor to re sign... The UFC are proving that they don't need Conor... It's negotiating 101
The simplest explanation is usually the correct one. And there’s a couple simpler than,”Conor sez noooo.”. Either it’s Dana’s looking to hand Conor what they both know will be a L, or (and this is way more likely) Conor wants more than Dana’s willing to pay/Dana wants to pay less than Conor’s willing to fight for. I’m think Dana’s lowballing, coz we have Uncle Shill out here tryna sell the idea that only title fights get to headline PPVs.
As I understand, the UFC has to offer its fighters a certain amount of fights per year according to the contracts with the fighters. So most likely they are offering him fights, unless he is suspended for some reason. (not being in USADA testing pool would be one good reason, suspended by USADA would be another, not sure how it is with the new dope deal...) Blaming the TV deal is not right. He would only be on TV if it was to promote a PPV... So apply any sense to this, and its McGregors side that doesnt make any.
Everyone here is acting like Conor got outsmarted by the UFC. By him coming out publicly to say these types of things, Conor is forcing the UFC's greedy hand. Risky and well-played by him. Even the fans are too dumb to get it.
Dana helped establish UFC as an authentically modern & consistently exciting brand of MMA and has more than earned his due in doing so. However, as of the time I'm writing this post, his underhanded dealings with his respective fighters are ultimately stunting the growth of his brand and as a fan of MMA after boxing let me down over and over again with regards to making the best fights, it fucking sucks to see such a similar & disappointingly familiar pattern of corporate greed & corruption growing ever more visible in the UFC under Dana. He should be answerable to someone or some MMA related organisation with the inherent ability to enforce fair & unbiased regulatory rules and procedures which would apply to situations such as this. Anyways, I can dream right? Lol 🤣
I don’t understand where this idea has come from that he’s going to make a boatload of cash elsewhere. Let’s say he fights out his contract. Do you really think he wins both ? Honestly? And the real rub is he’s in the same dilemma GGG found himself in. Same as Lomachenko and even Rigondeaux as well - the latter two for different reasons mind you. He can’t just fight bums that are easy send offs . While Donald was no cake walk, imo he’s going to have to return at a higher level than that given his brand and the superstar he’s trying to portray. If he goes out and fights someone unranked it’s not going to sell and there goes that exit plan. But anyone that can sell it’s debatable if he can win . It’ll have to be very unique fights where his stock won’t plummet with a loss but still sell. I’m picturing Nate then Colby or something . But to maintain this premium tag he’s got he’s got to extend it through two fights. I don’t think that’s easy as you’re making it seem like
Dude lost 3 of his last 4 and lost a boxing match before. He drinks every day on his yacht and even said he isnt motivated these days. He always says he is coming back and then changes his mind. I think the UFC is done with his games and have moved on.
Everybody's talking about paydays and everybody's talking about who Connor is going to fight and what not but yet why not save Connor from his own demise a lot of people have a lot to say about other people who fight too long and or do things that just get them hurt and get CTE and get brain damage and get all of these injuries and stuff I mean Connor is going to get his ass kicked if he steps back in that ring against any top contender. At either weight class I don't think he could fight at a catch weight and even beat Sean O'Malley I believe Sean O'Malley would destroy Conor McGregor right now and that's just more brain damage I mean why not protect people I mean everybody talks about safety and then we talked about this and then talk about that I mean which one is it bro what is more important f****** God damn memes for the best thumbnail or something I mean come on
The UFC is holding Conor out because he more than likely wants to fight out his contract and leave. As far as next fight I think Fiziev or Chandler make sense at 155. Could do Burns or Jack D at 170. All respectable and winnable fights
Bro YOU do better 😂 Conor talks about potential fights all the damn time and bro never shows up. He’s been this way since 2017. I’ll believe it when Bruce Buffer says his name. “Aw aw it’s cuz he said so” sick he’s also announced retirement at least 3 times. Dork ass comment
4:16 The UFC understands that allowing him to complete his contract could be a risky move, especially if they happened to part ways whilst not being on the best of terms. They clearly don't want to give him a fight without agreeing to be contractually tied up, putting more fights on his contractual agreement than he would want to complete prior to hanging up his gloves (or could logically/physically do so before age catches up to him and/or his career is up) so that they retain control over his options post UFC.
The UFC wants Conor to sign a contract and he just wants to fight it out which they won't let happen. But the UFC have to offer each fighter at least one fight per year otherwise they get paid they're purse so unless UFC are willing to pay McGregor millions for nothing, he'll be gone from them in 2 years.
Guys, what the hell are you even talking about? Don't you see what's really going on? Just listen to what True Geordie said in his recent video about Mcgregor situation because he's on point there. Cheers!
I think it's most likely a mix of shared blame. Up to December last year, the main unavoidable obstacle was obviously USADA not budging on exempting Conor from the rule requiring him to be in the testing pool for 6 months before him being eligible to fight, which is obviously Conor's responsibility for never getting in the testing pool. During the first couple months of this year, the UFC probably didn't want to book him because it would make it too obvious that they got rid of USADA specifically to book Conor without proper testing, confirming everything that USADA said that they shit on them for, and maybe even threatening the legitimacy of the sport (or the UFC's part in it) in a very real, very legal sense. Now and for the the immediate future, it's likely that Conor's obligations related to the movie are some sort of an obstacle. But that shouldn't keep him from booking something for International Fight Week or later, so beyond that I don't know, but I don't trust either to be telling the truth in public.
So let me tell you the truth Conor McNuggets is never going to be a world champion ever again in his life in the UFC. We all f****** know that and if you don't then you're not a real MMA spectator that does his or her due diligence to study the art
100% they are both full of shit. Well I understand there's a Monica of Truth to both sides, I 100% believe that they did not intend him to fight at all when they did the ultimate fighter, and only kept this shit going to get interest in 300 and to help him promote roadhouse.
I agree that the money makes the most sense. The most compelling argument I have seen for the UFC holding him back is leveraging McGregor fights in the new broadcasting deal. Having two fights with the biggest star in the sports history left on the table that money could be worth it. I don't buy it though. I think Conor is finally ready to get something done now that his other obligations are done. This is how Conor gets a fight made.
Why are true supposed fight fans always it seems and in other genres and other areas in this world, always dodging the elephant in the room and not talking about what's actually factual and what's actually on everybody's mind? I feel like people are paid to not be real
Never thought id see the day where the UFC are mistreating Conor of all people. Truly goes to show there are no friends in business. As if the man didn't propel the whole sport forward let alone just the UFC
Connor is probably still pissing hot and he and the UFC haven't got their narrative straight. I don't believe that the UFC would want to prolong this at all and I think that they would have had him in the octagon if they could have already
Come on now, you guys are behind the curve here - everyone can see they are trying to ice Conor as long as they can to force him into negotiating a new deal. The fact you guys are still "wondering" which side is lying is beyond me, it's clear as day!!!
You guys need to do more research. Edgar and BJ Penn the UFC and dana didnt want them to fight but they were still under contract. Dana said many times he wanted them to retire but if they still wanted to fight he would rather them do it in the ufc where they can look after em
It sucks how Conor stopped fighting after the mayweather fight. He wasted his prime and his chance to be one of the greats. He could have put on some great fights had he fought consistently.
McGregor just submitted his first drug test towards the end of December. He had to be clean for six months, it's barely been three. Connor could have gone back into the testing pool earlier, he didn't.
I think you guys overlooked one of the biggest things at play in this situation: The UFC is currently renegotiating their distribution rights/ESPN deal. With 2 fights left on his contract, I thoroughly believe that the UFC understands what a MASSIVE bargaining chip it is to go to ESPN, Netflix, Amazon, etc. and say "you should give us billions of dollars to distribute/stream our products because for two more scraps? We have the biggest combat sports figure on earth under our thumb."
His contract is going to end in a few fights and he probably isn't going to sign a new one. They want to make sure that he's old and washed up and can't go and box.
Added problem is UFC normally want to devalue them enough so that anything the fighter did afterwards would barely be noticed outside of hardcores. They know they can't devalue the McGregor brand enough in two fights. Ngannou beat Dana, he won't let it happen again, he's a billionaire who gets much richer every year whatever he does now, he doesn't give a fuck
4:05 maybe you guys get to this point later in the video but at the point in the video you're forgetting that the UFC is coming to the end of their ESPN TV contract and would be able to use 2 mcgregor fights as a negotiating card with ESPN or another network rather than just one.
Dana is lowkey, a terrible promoter. He gets a lot of credit because the UFC has been able to monopolize the MMA industry, but a lot of his moves make me think he hates money.
This is a tactic with Dana. Tactical strategy in negotiations. They are not meeting his standard and Connor got 2 fights left so they are going to starve him until he says yes to the King. If you watch the video where Dana tells about how the company is structured like a Kingdom, then it makes sense!
They're both probably looking at Francis leaving and making 10s of millions in boxing. Conor wants out and the UFC want to keep others from making that big cash flow. Let's face it, Conor is really over the hill now. At the age when UFC fighters start their heavy decline. He probably doesn't have much left in him and I'm sure he'd rather be making money in boxing than getting the shit beaten out of him by elite guys in the UFC.
Something to consider is the UFC doesn't rely on PPV buys anymore. The ESPN deal just pays them. So it actually just costs them to book him whereas they can keep him as a "UFC Fighter" and not pay him by doing what they are doing now. So there's not really anything from the UFC in terms of cash in.
