UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor doesn’t need the UFC to put on an exciting pay-per-view event.
On Saturday, McGregor did an interview, curated by MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, where he talked about a potential boxing match with Floyd “Money” Mayweather.
“I have my eyes on one thing. Floyd Mayweather,” McGregor said. “I’m watching the millions go up. Me and Floyd have got to get together and figure it out just like he and Manny did. Once we get a number we can agree on, then we go to the customers. The buyers. I’m going to Vegas to figure this out with the commission. That fight has been in the works for a while now. It’s the fight to make. It’s the fight the people want. It’s the fight I want. I’ve got the reach, youth, confidence, unpredictable style. Why conquer one world when you can conquer two? Fighting Floyd is another f*****g day for me. I believe I can make this fight without the UFC with the Ali Act. It’s smoother when we’re all involved. It’s smoother if we get everybody involved. UFC involved. Mayweather Promotions involved. And now the newly formed McGregor Promotions is involved.”
McGregor then talked about UFC President Dana White making an offer to both McGregor and Mayweather to make the fight happen. White offered both fighters $25 million to fight each other.
“I’m happy that there was an offer made,” McGregor said. “I’m happy that he made the offer. We’re getting there. We’re moving up. First of all, it was like ‘It’s never gonna happen.’ Now, there’s an offer on the table. It’s still not there yet, but it’s closing in on it. If Many and Floyd did $500 million, I believe this cross-sports, never before seen…this is the first $1 billion fight. People are going to have to pay for a $1 billion fight. So, it’s getting there. We’ll see.”
McGregor also said Mayweather is afraid to fight him. The UFC champion said he could beat Mayweather in a pure fight without any special rules.
“He’s the scared side,” McGregor said. “Let’s be honest. He’s not trying to have a real fight. He needs rules to protect him. I don’t need rules, so he can say he’s this and say he’s that. But in reality, he’s scared sh**less. Look, f*** the UFC, f*** MMA, f*** boxing, f*** sports fighting. Let’s just say we fight. It would be the easiest fight ever.”
During his interview, McGregor went on to say he expects to fight Mayweather by the end of the year, or in the beginning of 2018.
McGregor’s interview can be viewed here via online pay-per-view. The interview took place in front of a live audience at the EventCity exhibition center in Manchester, England.
