Conor McGregor is likely a keen observer of this weekend’s big fight involving Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia. That legit money fight sees two of the best fighters in the world going at without any belts on the line. Instead, the pair stand to make a fortune off each other’s names under the glittering lights of Vegas.
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The pair recently emphasized how this is a ‘money fight’ by verbally sparring over a purse bet, which could see the winner take all in their match-up. That tactic is pretty common in boxing, where big purses for big fights are the norm and the figures are disclosed and touted as a point of pride (not hidden, due to embarrassment like they are in MMA).
The UFC’s Mohammad Mokaev has also tried his hand at this ploy, offering his $38,000 purse for Brandon Royval to accept a fight with him.
Conor McGregor’s financial advice
Conor McGregor, whose legacy in MMA will be centred around him making more money than anyone else, jumped on these developments and used it to offer financial advice to his fellow fighters.
“Has any competing fighters bet their purse against each other and then followed thru?” he wrote on Twitter. “We should stop doing this. Fighting is tough. It can go anyway. Luck plays a hell of a part. Don’t be saying you are betting your fight purse against each other. Because it never happens. Ant it’s stupid. Train hard. Fight hard. Earn your dough. And then enjoy it.”
McGregor then responded to a fan who suggested he bet his purse against Michael Chandler, who he is expected to fight sometime this year.
“I make substantially more than everyone on the roster combined so it’s not feasible,” answered McGregor. “I could bet a portion however. But it’s ridiculous, and no. This game, and the longer you are in it, gets tougher and tougher. I’m keeping my hard earned money for my loved ones.”
McGregor is currently taping a season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Chandler. The fight with Chandler would be his first since he broke his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier back in 2021.
How did Conor McGregor make so much money?
Conor McGregor’s hard earned money came first and foremost due to his talent and willingness to promote fights at every given opportunity. His brash gift-of-the-gab style of marketing saw him catapult up the UFC rankings and earn a title shot at then UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo in 2015.
After beating Aldo, McGregor leveraged his popularity to secure a second title shot, this time against UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in 2016. That fell through, but lead to two PPV blowout successes versus Nate Diaz. Those were then followed by a UFC lightweight title shot against Eddie Alvarez in the same year.
After beating Alvarez, McGregor’s star was arguably at it’s zenith. He then used his burgeoning mainstream popularity to secure a boxing bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. a deal that netted him (and the UFC) millions.
Since then McGregor’s potency inside the cage has dropped off dramatically, as demonstrated by his 1-3 record over the past five years.
However he’s only grown richer over that time (and not because of fight purses). McGregor’s place near the top of sports’ rich lists is thanks to Proper Twelve Whiskey, a brand he founded with his manager Audie Attar, and his Black Forge Inn establishment, which is on the verge of being franchised across the UK, US and Gulf States.
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