Conor McGregor is back in the headlines, and as always, he’s causing a stir. What’s the scoop? This time, it looks like the Irishman’s plans could send shockwaves through the MMA sphere and Dana White’s multi-billion dollar dream! ‘The Notorious’ has been out of action since 2021, and the recent cancellation of his UFC 303 bout against Michael Chandler caused a lot of speculation about his future in the promotion. 

While Chandler is already set up for a new fight this year, the UFC boss has revealed that McGregor’s return is being planned for 2025. But in a recent interview, the Irishman made a surprising claim about his future that may end up throwing a wrench in the UFC and Dana White’s negotiations for a new broadcast deal!

Conor McGregor sends alarm bells ringing with uncertainty surrounding his UFC future

Conor McGregor was present at the recent Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois clash at Wembley Stadium. While speaking to Ariel Helwani, he hinted at an uncertain future. When asked about his UFC contract which still has 2 fights on it and if he’ll be able to get those bouts in 2025, McGregor responded by stating, “I must. I must. I must. It’s the promised lands, you know? So we’ll see.”

When Helwani pressed further, asking what would happen after his UFC contract ends, McGregor admitted, “I don’t even know. I don’t think no one in the space knows. I’m the highest generating fighter on planet Earth right now, in today’s space. And what happens afterwards, I’m not after this, I’m as I’m a free agent, I am not so sure.”

With his statement underscoring the uncertainty surrounding his future plans with the UFC, has now cast a shadow of speculation over the UFC’s upcoming broadcast deal. In 2025, the year of McGregor’s “promised” return, the promotion’s $1.5 billion contract with ESPN is going to come to an end.

As such, Dana White has stated previously, “Who knows? We could end up like the NBA and the NFL where we end up on multiple channels instead of just one. … It’s all moving and changing so quickly.” Currently, the NFL dwarfs the UFC with a reported $111 billion value for their TV deal. So, with McGregor’s uncertainty about his future, could the UFC be in trouble when they find themselves at the negotiation table?

Because according to ‘The Problem Child’, one of the reasons behind the delay in Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon is the UFC’s desire to leverage his star power to maximum effect!

Jake Paul lays out a bold claim about why the UFC is seemingly keeping McGregor sidelined  

Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return to the Octagon has been clouded by one delay after another. So, why the hold-up? Is there more going on behind the scenes than we know? Enter Jake Paul, the controversial social media star turned boxer, with a theory that could explain the mysterious delays. According to Paul, McGregor’s absence isn’t just about injuries but about the UFC’s negotiations for their soon-to-expire broadcast deal.

Speaking on an episode of ‘BS w/Jake Paul’ podcast, Paul explained, “So, Conor has two fights left on his fight deal, but the UFC is trying to renew their rights deal because they license their content, which are their fights, to (broadcast) platforms.” 

What does this mean for McGregor’s contract? According to Paul’s theory, “A part of that negotiation is ‘Hey, we have Conor McGregor for two more fights’ but if he were to fight now, that wouldn’t be a part of the negotiations; ‘Oh yeah well you only have Conor for one more fight’ – that’s why Conor is not fighting right now.”

Paul’s argument makes sense from a business standpoint. McGregor’s star power remains unmatched in the UFC, and his return could generate massive pay-per-view sales. If UFC can use his fights as leverage during high-stakes negotiations, they could potentially secure a more lucrative deal, one that sets them up for long-term success as envisioned by Dana White.

But with ‘The Notorious’  himself hinting at uncertainty about his UFC future, what will the future hold for Conor McGregor—and the UFC? Let us know your thoughts on the situation in the comments below!