24Option Partners with the UFC Champion Conor McGregor
МакГрегор подписал новый контракт с UFC на 8 боев
Floyd Mayweather v Conor McGregor: UFC champion wants to continue in MMA and boxing
'Toughest mind in sports' – Mayweather
Pay-per-view record in sight
'Biggest star on earth'
Want to know who wins?
Conor's court clash: New York lawsuit could force McGregor to hand over ALL profits from UFC 229
Conor McGregor vs Khabib in the works as lightweight champion CONFIRMS talks
CONOR MCGREGOR's eagerly-anticipated fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov is in the works, the UFC's lightweight champion has revealed.
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Бывший чемпион UFC в двух весовых категориях Конор МакГрегор подписал новый контракт с промоушеном. Соглашение рассчитано на восемь поединков. Детали сделки не разглашаются, но известно, что в контракт включен пункт о рекламе новой марки виски ирландца — «Proper 12».
«Конор точно знает, чего он стоит и сколько мы должны ему заплатить. В конечном счете, он полностью оправдывает потраченные на него средства. Мы следили за трансляциями и сделали вывод, что пресс-конференция к бою с Хабибом побила рекорд медийных мероприятий к поединку Конора и Флойда Мейвезера.
Этот парень — настоящий бриллиант, он может не только красиво говорить, но и подраться с любым соперником, в любое время и любом месте. Таким образом, заключение новой сделки с МакГрегором не было сложной задачей, поскольку мы знаем, чего он стоит», — заявил Дана Уайт.
Свой следующий поединок 30-летний ирландец проведет против непобежденного Хабиба Нурмагомедова 6 октября на UFC 229 в Лас-Вегасе
BBC Sport boxing reporter in Las Vegas
Floyd Mayweather v Conor McGregor
Date: Saturday, 26 August (local) Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and text updates on the BBC Sport website and app
UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor wants to continue both a mixed martial arts and boxing career after Saturday's super bout with Floyd Mayweather.
Wednesday's final news conference at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas proved far calmer than any media event in the build-up to what could be the most lucrative fight in boxing history.
McGregor, 29, will earn a reported $100m in his boxing debut at the T-Mobile Arena event, prompting speculation future UFC pay days might not keep him with the organisation.
He said: "When this one is done I will have 20 seconds where I relish in victory and then I will be thinking who is next? I will be looking to compete all over the place.
"After I get victory I will certainly be looking to compete in both sports. Since I'm the king of the boxing ring and king of the MMA maybe I will make my own hybrid. Then if anyone wants to challenge me they can do it in my octagon."
Mayweather cut a refined figure at the MGM event, which was closed to the public. He was seemingly uninterested in exchanging insults, while McGregor had no such qualms, pointing to social media posts his rival has shared of betting slips and stating he thinks Mayweather "may have a gambling problem".
The undefeated boxer's father – Floyd Sr – told reporters "a lot" had been taken away from his son's ability in his two years out of the sport but stressed he still had enough to overcome McGregor.
But Mayweather was defiant when telling BBC Sport he was "going to look good" as he bids for a 50th win from 50 fights.
"I don't miss the hype and this at all. I'd rather be at home watching TV but this is my job," said the 40-year-old.
"McGregor can say whatever he wants to say, when it comes down to it I can fight. "Mentally, no athlete in the world is stronger than me.
"To be here 21 years I had to take it extremely seriously. You guys think I am not taking it seriously? I am."
It was announced the winner of a bout many in boxing have rubbished will receive a one-off belt from the World Boxing Council called 'The Money Belt'.
It contains 3,360 diamonds, 600 sapphires, 300 emeralds and 1.5kg of solid gold, mounted on alligator leather.
It is the latest opulent addition to a fight which could earn $600m (£469m) and which will challenge the record of 4.6 million pay-per-view buys set when Mayweather defeated Manny Pacquiao in 2020.
Stephen Espinoza, the head of the Showtime network, told reporters breaking the record was "in the realm of possibility" and stressed a key factor was that the fight will be televised in more than 220 countries, a marked increase on the Mayweather-Pacquiao reach.
"If we don't get there, it will be very close," he said.
Potential record pay-per-view income, added to merchandising, ticket sales and sponsorship will deliver McGregor the type of purse which will only prompt further questions as to how UFC can satisfy its main star when he returns.
His exact earnings will remain unknown thanks to a non-disclosure agreement signed by both fighters.
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UFC president Dana White told reporters it was possible the pay day could prompt McGregor to retire, adding "whatever happens, I'm happy for him".
"When he knocks Floyd out his legacy will be that he is the greatest combat sports star ever," White told BBC Sport. "He will be the biggest star on earth."
White also hit back at criticism of the bout, singling out legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum as an "idiot" and a "moron".
"Arum said this is like LeBron James fighting Anthony Joshua," added White.
"Conor McGregor is a fighter and has done it his whole life. It is not the end of the world or the end of boxing if he knocks Floyd out on Saturday night.
"The naysayers will be asking different questions on Sunday morning. This is not a boxing match, it's a fight."
According to a report from showbiz gossip outlet TMZ, Michael Chiesa believes he directly lost out on a UFC title fight as a result of McGregor's actions when the Irishman attacked a bus transporting fighters at a UFC 223 media day earlier this year, and the use of footage of the incident, amounted to a breach of a US law that prevents criminal activity being used to generate profit for the perpetrators.
McGregor was arrested and convicted of disorderly conduct as a result of the attack. Now Chiesa, who was on the bus attacked by McGregor in Brooklyn at UFC 223 and sustained cuts as a result, has filed a lawsuit.
The report also states that Chiesa believes the bus attack was "a pre-meditated publicity stunt" designed to generate additional buzz for McGregor's UFC 229 fight with Nurmagomedov, and Chiesa wants a judge to force McGregor to hand over the profits he made as a result of that fight to the victims of the attack.
The lawsuit is looking to invoke the 'Son of Sam' law that states that those convicted of a crime cannot profit through publicity of their criminal activity.
Chiesa was unable to face Nurmagomedov for the vacant UFC lightweight title at UFC 223 when Tony Ferguson was ruled out of the bout through injury and backup option Max Holloway was unable to step in due to weight-cutting issues.
Chiesa was originally scheduled to face former world champion Anthony Pettis at UFC 223, but TMZ say Chiesa explained that the UFC approached him to face Nurmagomedov for the title instead, only for the cuts sustained in the bus attack to effectively rule him out of both fights that weekend.
Al Iaquinta stood in instead, and lost via unanimous decision as Nurmagomedov captured the UFC lightweight title. McGregor went on to face Nurmagomedov for the title at UFC 229 but was well beaten by the Russian, who won by fourth-round submission in Las Vegas.
Conor McGregor's proposed fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov is in the works (Image: GETTY)
A bout between the pair has been on the cards for over 19 months following Nurmagomedov's unforgettable call out of McGregor at UFC 205, which he made after being overlooked for a title shot.
The eagerness to see pair throw down with one another reached fever pitch last April at the UFC 223 media day in Brooklyn, where McGregor attacked a bus carrying the Dagestan native.
In the weeks following that unsavoury incident and Nurmagomedov claiming the lightweight crown, UFC president Dana White has repeatedly stated that Nurmagomedov versus McGregor will be the next 155lbs title fight.
And according to 'The Eagle', the UFC brass are working on his proposed bout with his predecessor at the summit of the stacked lightweight division.
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"Very soon, I'm going to come to the USA to begin my training camp," 29-year-old Nurmagomedov said during a Live Raise broadcast.
"When the UFC give me fight, I'm going to come to California and I'm going to stay there in AKA with my family nine weeks before fight.
"I'm going to defend my Inshallah (god willing) this year. This year, I want to defend my title.
The UFC is working on fight, me versus Conor
Khabib Nurmagomedov, UFC lightweight champion
"About opponents, I don't know, to be honest. I don't know. But the UFC is working on fight, me versus Conor."
Should a fight with McGregor fail to come to fruition, Nurmagomedov is willing to face whoever the UFC put in front of him.
"If they give (me) Conor, I'm going to fight," he continued.
Conor McGregor could soon find himself inside the Octagon with Khabib Nurmagomedov (Image: GETTY)
"If they give me different opponents; 'GSP' or the winner of (Eddie) Alvarez versus (Dustin) Poirier. It doesn't matter, let's go."
Nurmagomedov's declaration comes a week after it was reported that a showdown with McGregor is being discussed for UFC 229, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on October 6.
Last Saturday, MMA Team Dagestan tweeted: "BREAKING: @TeamKhabib vs. @TheNotoriousMMA in the works for UFC 229 October 6, Las Vegas, T-Mobile Arena."
Conor McGregor's legal troubles could very well delay his proposed fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov (Image: GETTY)
The initial report of Nurmagomedov vs McGregor being targeted for UFC 229 was met with a lot of skepticism, but that is likely to dissipate following the former's latest statement on his future.
Although it seems that Nurmagomedov vs McGregor is close to coming to fruition, the fight can't be made until the culmination of the latter's ongoing court case, the result of his actions at the UFC 223 media day.
McGregor is currently facing three charges of assault and one charge of criminal mischief for his rampage, in which he threw a dolly through the window of a bus carrying his fellow fighters.
Conor McGregor versus Khabib Nurmagomedov has the potential to be the biggest fight in UFC history (Image: GETTY)
The Irishman's legal team are in the process of working on a plea deal with Brooklyn District Attorney ahead of his July 26 hearing.
McGregor, 29, hasn't set foot inside the Octagon since his historic UFC 205 victory over Eddie Alvarez, a triumph which saw him become the promotion's first simultaneous two-weight world champion.
Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, hasn't fought since succeeding McGregor as lightweight champion at UFC 223, where he recorded a unanimous decision victory over Al Iaquinta.