Morning Report: Henry Cejudo suggests UFC release Conor McGregor instead of paying for final fight
MMA Fighting • • sports
Key Points:
- Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo suggests the UFC might consider cutting Conor McGregor from the promotion due to his high salary demands and plans to move to bare-knuckle boxing after his contract ends.
- Despite McGregor being the biggest box office draw in UFC history, his recent performance has declined significantly, with a 1-4 record since his 2017 boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr., and he has also faced serious legal issues.
- Cejudo argues that the UFC’s pay-per-view model has diminished, making McGregor's $30 million payout hard to justify, and suggests the UFC could let him leave after one final fight to avoid further financial risk.
- There is concern that if McGregor wins his last fight, he could leverage that victory for better financial opportunities outside the UFC, but he still generates significant revenue for the promotion, including a $26 million gate at UFC 329.
- Cejudo acknowledges McGregor’s impact on elevating other fighters' careers but questions whether continuing to invest heavily in him is a sound business decision for the UFC moving forward.
