Conor McGregor Claims UFC Contract is Void With New Paramount Broadcast Deal

Conor McGregor could be in line for a new UFC contract. | Bellator MMA

If Conor McGregor is to be believed, the Irish star will begin negotiations for a new UFC contract in the near future.In an interview on stream, the former two-division champion claimed that the new Paramount broadcast deal eliminates pay-per-view points, which requires a reworked UFC contract. McGregor is still targeting a return to the UFC White House card, although the event has yet to be confirmed.

“I’m now preparing for the fight in the White House,” McGregor said (via Happy Punch). “I’m definitely going to work on it. It’s going to be crazy, the White House map is going to be that.””I’m going into negotiations with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in February. I’m very interested in going. They actually have a new deal with Paramount that’s worth $7.7 billion. So the company has [quadrupled] the profit from it, and my contract is essentially void at this point because there is no more pay-per-view, even though my contract was based on pay-per-view sales. I’m the highest grossing pay-per-view fighter of all time. The pay-per-view system is done, I get a new contract. So we will be negotiating in February and I am very curious to see how things go.”

McGregor was the UFC’s top draw under the previous pay-per-view model, theoretically making extra money for how many his events sold. Under Paramount, all numbered UFC events will be available at no additional cost as part of a streaming service subscription.McGregor has not competed since July 2021, when he broke his leg in the loss to Dustin Poirier. The Dublin native was scheduled to return at UFC 303 in June 2024, but he withdrew from a proposed bout against Michael Chandler due to a broken toe. Although McGregor seemed interested in meeting Chandler at the White House, UFC CEO Dana White recently dismissed the idea of ​​revisiting that booking.

Getting ready

Regardless of who the opponent might be, McGregor appears intent on fighting on the UFC White House card – possibly with a new contract in hand.“I focus on what I can control,” McGregor said. “I’m in the gym. I live in the gym, focus on my health, focus on my rest, listen to my coaches and follow the game plan. External noise doesn’t exist for me. I don’t absorb it. You’re aware of it, but you don’t let it seep in. Keep the internal dialogue strong. I’m here, showing the kids, showing my team what it takes. You gotta live it. You gotta live and breathe it.”