MMA/UFC Discussion Thread MMA • Page 7

Source: McGregor Pulled from UFC 200

 

I'm sure it's a ton of things. Could have felt he was worth more, UFC could have denied him a title shot at 155/170, could have been absolutely exhausted from everything he has to do, could have felt it wasn't worth after the health/death scares, etc.

 

Yeah, I feel like (if it's true - and that's a big IF) this is the main reason with the others just adding to it. I remember reading that he almost quit MMA a while ago after seeing his friend get severely hurt in a fight, so this could have just pushed it over the edge. I don't know... It's just weird that he would announce that today and on twitter if it was true.

 

Fuck. That'd be the best

 

I have to agree with you on this. Honestly, I think Dana and Lorenzo are tired of getting bowled over by everything Conor wants, and then having to give it to him. It's interesting because UFC now has some leverage with Jones coming back and the GSP rumors.

Conor's kind of backed himself into a corner with this now. If he can't beat Diaz (highly likely) then what? His star loses some of that shine. He'd have to go back to 145 with two guys that want to destroy him. Very real possibility he could be looking at a three fight skid.

That said, I think Dana ponies up for GSP and gives him the main event at 200 (and a boatload of cash) as an apology for how he treated him when he left. GSP beats Diaz, who still gets paid handsomely, setting up the MSG main event of GSP v Conor. Win-win for everyone, except Conor when GSP grinds him into paste.

 

Yup. Jeremy Botter and others who are respectable sources in this sport reported before UFC 196 that Conor had stopped dealing with Dana entirely, that there tension in their relationship, and that he was negotiating exclusively with Lorenzo. Couple that with Conor drawing huge numbers and his constant references to the UFC brass as of late as "we," as if he's running the show, and this reeks of posturing. I think Sonnen said it best: "He tried to bluff a gambler and lost."

That isn't to say the death of the fighter didn't weigh on him or anything, but I refuse to believe the guy who never missed an opportunity to recite his obsession with the game would walk because of it. It doesn't add up.

 

Conor knows he's worth big bucks, and if the UFC didn't want to pay him...he left, sounds pretty simple to me.

If he was actually asking for 10,000,000, that isn't too much when thinking of how often boxing does this. Dana is so full of himself and thinks the UFC is so high and mighty but doesn't want to pay the fighters, it was just a matter of time a big draw decided to leave.

Would be hilarious if he went over to Bellator; I could see a fight with Bendo being huge.

 

He can't fight anywhere else or compete anywhere else while under contract.

 

Unless he gets out of it. But if there is animosity between the UFC and Conor, I doubt they'll let him go.

 

I can't imagine any circumstances, animosity or not, where the UFC would agree to let him walk to another organization.

 

Regardless. Assuming Conor is serious (he's been very serious about all other things), it would be nice if he just went dark and didn't entertain Dana or the UFC if they decided to recant their decision.

Conor was fun to watch, though I didn't like his personality (Jon Jones complex), but good riddance.

 

Conor won't (can't) be fighting anywhere else. The UFC champions clauses are airtight. Couture tried to get out a long time ago and we all saw how that worked out.

 

I can understand not liking Conor as a human being, even as a fighter, but I can't understand not wanting to see him continuing to compete in the UFC. The mainstream attention he brought to the sport was a wonderful thing. If he's really done, it's a real shame.

 

I don't have a stake in the promotion named the UFC, so I don't really care how well the organization does from a financial standpoint. If a fighter wants to bite the hand that feeds, he should be prepared to face the consequences. Just a matter of time before another dude with a similar personality comes into the UFC.

 

Personality alone isn't going to elevate you anywhere near that level. Everything Conor did inside and out of the cage did pre-Diaz was a perfect storm for his stock. When was the last time there was that kind of dynamic inside the cage and outside of it? That kind of face and that kind of mouthpiece for the promotion?

And no, I don't care how much money lines their pockets either, but that kind of star is huge for the sport.

 

Do Dana doesn't think Conor is actually retired...but if he is, Edgar/Aldo for the vacant belt.

 

Liking that pipeline thought leading to the fight I imagined.

 

Yep. I saw pubs full to the brim and girls that I knew not taking an interest in any sport asking about him and wanting to go watch it. He's good for the sport

 

Yup. I can always tell the effect fighters have on casual fans just by looking at my Dad's perception to them. He constantly wanted to know when Conor was fighting next, who he'd be facing, etc. but he couldn't for the life of him pick out a guy like Stephen Thompson out of a crowd. Very few people have had the effect on the sport that Conor has had.

 

http://deadspin.com/ufc-boss-dana-white-mad-at-conor-mcgregor-for-not-doing-1772142469

 

I don't really understand how being penalized for refusing to do the promotion you are contractually obligated to do is "dumb."

 

Whole situation is dumb. Conor sounds like he is exhausted and thinks the UFC should cut him some slack because he has done them so many favors and made them so much money. I get it. He's contractually obligated to do these promotional things so the UFC shouldn't budge. I get that, too.

Seems like everyone loses here: the UFC, Conor, and the fans. I guess the show goes on, though.

Luke Thomas has a good video about this. It doesn't matter who you are and what you've done for the UFC, you're not guaranteed anything that you're not contractually obligated to receive. It's happened to everyone, and they still act surprised when they don't get title shots they were promised, rematches they wanted, etc. The UFC always has business to take care of and a show to run, so they're not going to sacrifice anything for one fighter.

 

Oh jesus christ just get on with it.