Sunday was a pretty weird and dramatic day to be a TikTok user in the US. The authorities banned the video-sharing app, but after only 14 hours, Donald Trump helped reinstate the platform throughout the nation. However, those 14 hours were enough for rival companies to target the fanbase and establish themselves as a valid alternative.

Triller TV, a Bulgaria-based American video streaming platform, famous for orchestrating the 2020 Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition match, soon jumped in on the opportunity. They not only targeted the TikTok user base but also got Conor McGregor to back them up. However, considering the controversy that Triller created for themselves after the exhibition match, will the combat sports world accept them?

Conor McGregor backs Triller

Triller posted a collaboration video with ‘Notorious’ on Instagram as soon as TikTok got banned. The caption read, “TRILLER IS BACK BABY! 👏,” taking a direct dig at TikTok. The video featured Conor McGregor with his security team showing excitement over this new scenario. Triller has been trying to take over the American user base and in 2020 was close to it when it secured $100 million in funding at a valuation of $1.25 billion.

But as ByteDance acquired Musical.ly(now TikTok) in 2017 for an estimated $1 billion, things started to change. Currently, the company Triller Group Inc. carries a market cap of $377.04M based on a January 17 report from Yahoo!Finance. The projected ban on TikTok served as a perfect opportunity for the platform to get past its competitors and once again rule the market.

Triller has often used celebrities and influencers to promote its platform. This time, they chose Conor McGregor as their face, and even the former UFC dual champion looked excited. “I am very excited. A lot of people are gonna come over to Triller now, and see what we are about. Big things for Triller, Let’s Go! Triller is back baby!” exclaimed McGregor excitedly.

However, the hopes of the firm to recapture the top spot failed miserably as Donald Trump unbanned TikTok within 14 hours. Secondly, the way that Triller has rubbed combat sports athletes and fans in the past, it is difficult to see how they will once again survive in the market, especially in the presence of intense competition from TikTok.

Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. controversy

In 2020, Triller decided to grow its reach amongst combat sports fans and organized the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition match. While the event was a massive success, both Tyson and Jones have since revealed that they have not been compensated fully.

In a conversation with Bad Left Hook, following the fight, Roy Jones Jr revealed that both he and Tyson had issues with Triller. “We both had issues with them, and still have issues with them. Ryan Kavanaugh called me and personally told me he wanted to do something extra because of the fact the fight did so well. Did that ever happen? No, all a bunch of talk but nothing behind it. … I got compensated but not fully, that’s the problem,” claimed the boxing legend.

On the other hand, Mike Tyson had similar issues and labeled the situation with Triller as “tricky.” Triller’s CEO Ryan Kavanaugh tried to handle the situation claiming that there was no due left, but the damage was already done. Even Dana White, the UFC president, spoke on the issue a few years ago on the Full Send Podcast. “Yeah, that’s what they should call it. ‘Tricky’ instead of Triller… You never hear that coming out of the [UFC]. [With me], You don’t hear guys saying, ‘they didn’t pay me yet’, ever!” White remarked when asked about Mike Tyson’s accusations against Triller.

Following that, Triller Fight Club also tried to acquire the Teofimo Lopez vs. George Kambosos Jr. fight in 2021. However, after multiple delays, the platform decided to drop the fight, which would cost them around $10 million.

It is safe to say that Triller’s adventure in the combat world has not been pretty. They tried to take benefit of the opportunity by roping in Conor McGregor. However, the reinstatement of TikTok might have killed the opportunity even before they could do something.

What are your thoughts on Triller TV and Conor McGregor’s partnership? Do you think Triller can overtake TikTok in the US? Let us know your thoughts down below.