lambyUK

 

 

Which is kinda what I mean. Why would the UFC cave to a guy who, theoretically, could lose this fight against Nate and call it a day? All that would happen is they'd be left having set the precedent of allowing a fighter more power, which they'll have to deal with down the road.

 

If Conor's no longer fighting (for real, let's imagine), then they'll no doubt have similar issues with Jones, Ronda and any future stars. I can't see a company as control-hungry as the UFC allowing that to be honest.

 

 

The simple answer is money. You're probably looking at the difference of 50 to 100m if Mcgregor fights or not at UFC 200. 

 

In relation to Ronda, don't you actually think this was inevitably going to happen with her as well? In theory they've already given her loads of leeway accommodating her the time off doing movies in between her fight career. I'm guessing behind the scenes she's made plenty of demands in the past, and I've no doubt given the nature of her defeat against Holm, will be making plenty more upon her return. 

 

GSP is a another prime example of fighter power. He came out on the MMA Hour earlier in the week and basically said that the only way he agrees to return is if someone stumps up the cash for his short fall in earnings due to the reebok deal and the loss of his sponsors. Imagine if the UFC agree to this as well? Will all fighters start requesting this? The simple answer in the UFC caving to any of these people is cold hard cash. If the stars are big enough, then their demands should be met. 

 

 

The thing for me is the way he's going about it. Social media posts whilst sitting in Iceland? Trying to leverage public support to pressurise your boss into doing something? I'm not sure that's the best way to get a result you want.

 

And even if he does get what he wants, let's say that dc's doctor says "no dice" for July and the UFC have no other option, all he's done is sour that relationship with the company.

 

I'm still not convinced that he went about all of this the right way, and I'm not convinced he sat down in private and had this discussion with the UFC before blowing shit up on social media.

 

I think you're right about the retirement statement considering that wasn't true at all, but in this day and age, everything comes out through social media. It's the most powerful tool on the planet when it comes to marketing and PR.

 

I don't believe he sat down with Lorenzo et al. but if you still believe that he made that retirement statement before informing White of his requests in private (over the phone) then that really doesn't make sense or stand up to anything that's been said by White or Mcgregor. 

Agreed David on your first point.

 

Regarding the second point, that's the fight business at the end of the day. Shit can crumble in a second. Any fight Mcgregor takes is risky.

 

You've got to remember, Mcgregor was always about fight, get rich, and get out quick. If it all falls apart after this next Nate fight, then it's been a hell of a ride.

 

Its obvious this is the fight that he wants. Hats off to guy attempting the challenge.

This is going to get tedious going back and forth between threads.

 

Think we should keep that chat in here regarding McGregor.

 

I was saying that I can't see the upside to McGregor lying here. It would turn a shit load of people against him.

McGregor just now tweeting he's back on to fight Diaz at 200..defo not fake account!

 

 

Happy to announce that I am BACK on UFC 200!

Shout out to @danawhite and @lorenzofertitta on getting this one done for the fans. #Respect

I think you're right, lamby, I'm not his best mate or anything but I imagine McGregor was so driven that he signed for the rematch as soon as possible but then it hit him how much time he'd have to donate for media appearances and though it might affect his training, training for a fight that he probably seems as his most important and he wants to focus on it 100%

Yep. I was thinking that too. Off the top off my head I don't know, but wasn't it a matter of weeks that the contract was signed for the rematch?

 

As you say, his drive is ridiculous on a normal day to day, but for this you would have the added emotion of defeat to add.

 

I know most fighters experience defeat, but with him along with everything that preceded the first fight, would more than likely increase that drive 10 fold.

I'm not sure why you're still looking for a logical reason Wand?

 

The logic is simply power. Each side want x and y and neither of them are getting it.

 

It's easy saying why didn't McGregor sort this out during the contract signing, but shit changes day to day.

 

From the sounds of McGregor's statement it's only till he's started training that he's realised what needs to be done to achieve his goals and the mountain he has to climb.

 

I'm not saying that its right or wrong here, but I certainly think he's allowed to feel differently from one day to the next.

 

Now this is just a guess, but I highly doubt the contract details exactly what promotion is required of McGregor either.

 

 

Re: David, Yep, if he was anyone else he would be blasted. But he's not, and no one else is Conor McGregor.

Regardless of who he is, he's looking like someone who's managed to do himself out of around $5 million, which is fucking dumb whichever way you look at it, especially for someone who bangs on about money so much.

Unless he fights again.

Re: David, Yep, if he was anyone else he would be blasted. But he's not, and no one else is Conor McGregor.

Who knows. We shall find out soon enough. I can't predict the future David.

 

Well, he's certainly not made mention of going to the company first, has he? Unless I've missed it somewhere?

 

And by going to the company first, I don't mean a few days before his Twitter "retirement", I mean at the point where he signed his bout agreement and was informed of the media obligations he'd have.

 

He can be a huge star, but you can also bet that when the opportunity for him to fight again rolls around it'll be Dana and Lorenzo who are calling the shots, and Conor will be doing his media duties.

 

And if he doesn't? I wouldn't be surprised if the UFC are happy to shelve him and strip him of his title until he straightens himself out. The truth is, the way they handle this will affect how other fighters approach the same issues in the future, so whilst they may be taking a dunt short-term financially by not having Conor on the card, they're maybe looking long-term, even to a point when McGregor isn't with the company anymore.

 

And understand, I love seeing Dana pushed into the corner on this. But i don't think he'll cave on it. It's not in his nature to let anyone get the better of him, and he strikes me as the kind of guy who'd rather be seen as the boss and make $50 million than let someone even suggest that he's there for the taking and make $100 million.

 

 

Don't really know where to begin with that first sentence. I will just let you believe Mcgregor never went to UFC brass requesting his demands before making his statement on twitter, albeit that being an actual impossible act. 

 

You've shifted the goal posts there as well David. You didn't mention anything remotely about Mcgregor doing this during his contract negotiations before. All you said was if he went to Dana and Lorenzo privately before his twitter announcement, it could have been different. Uncertain why Mcgregor needs to tell you he did that considering it being absolutely self explanatory.

 

 

What he requested when taken at face value isn't unrealistic, but when you go public and "retire" before making a public statement via Facebook of all places instead of sitting down with your bosses privately to discuss the matter you surely can't expect to win the argument?

 

Had he went to Dana and Lorenzo quietly and privately I'm thinking they'd have likely accommodated him, especially Lorenzo. He seems like the more level-headed of the two, and would probably have at least met with McGregor part-way.

 

He didn't do that though. He basically called them out on it publicly, putting them in a position where caving in to his demands make the company look weak, and also open the doors for other fighters to do the same.

 

Looking at it in the cold light of day you really have to ask if McGregor has anyone advising him, because the way he's went about this has been fucking terribly amateurish. For a guy who claims to know the business and be on top of that side of the game he's fucked right up.

 

 

Do you really think he didn't do that?

 

I'm uncertain how he would have made his request anything but privately in the first instance? He certainly didn't come onto social media asking his requests first did he? They shot him down (privately), and obviously wouldn't budge. He then did what he did on social media, and from a PR perspective, caused a meltdown and made himself into an even bigger star.

 

I would actually say if he did seek PR advice, then I would say buy that person a steak dinner. Does it look the most professional? Without question no, but this is a fighter, not a teacher or a doctor in any normal day to day job.

 

 

I'm not so sure the UFC do want to let him do what he wants to be honest.

 

I'm not so sure that his "I run this company" patter hasn't irked the likes of Dana, who likes everyone to know that he's the boss when it comes right down to it.

 

From what I've seen, McGregor is basically testing the waters to see how far he can push the company to set aside certain rules for him, and the company aren't budging.

 

Good on them. No man is bigger than the sport.

 

 

I'm talking about the likes or Lorenzo etc. I bet if you sat them down, asked them to take their business hats off, they'd tell you that what he's requested isn't unrealistic.

 

You're right about Dana though. Throughout a lot of those press conferences, especially the RDA one, some of the stuff Mcgregor said may have irked White. You could see it when there was talk of that poster design that he was getting pissed off.

 

However, this isn't Mcgregor testing anything David. He's not dipping his toes and see where the ripples take him. He's flat telling them this is what he wants, and if he doesn't get it, he's not fighting. 

 

In relation to the no man is bigger than the sport, I would perhaps argue that if you take that approach, you stop the sport from growing. 

 

I think there's a case to be made where without personalities who transcended their sport, the sport wouldn't be where it is today. Ali with boxing, Pele with football etc etc. Mcgregor is the first MMA star that really could transcend the sport and push it to places it's never been before. 

 

Edit:- Yesterday's MMA Beat discussing Mcgregor. 

 

The thing is the UFC probably want to let Mcgregor do what he wants. The more I think about it they all probably agree that Mcgregor is right. The major problem is the precedent it sets for everyone else.

 

As a fan, it's an obvious answer, Mcgregor has done so much for the company and has busted his ass more than any fighter in company history (from a promotional perspective) that his request is more than fair. 

 

However, if the UFC agree, then every fighter from now on, at least those fighters even with 1/10th of Mcgregor's clout, will see a leeway into their promotional obligations in the future. and you could potentially create a free for all.

 

That said, the UFC have an easy out here. All they need to say is "you're not Conor Mcgregor, come back once you've generated $400m in a year for us". How that would go down is another matter altogether. 

 

It really boils my blood though as can you imagine Pacquiao or Mayweather doing something like this? Their promoters would jump through hoops for them to keep their fights from being cancelled. Mcgregor is the UFC's Mayweather, and for them to not budge on this is crazy to me. 

 

Bizarrely I get the feeling we may be closer today to actually getting the fight back on. Seeing the backlash the company is getting after Mcgregor released his statement is through the roof.

I get Mike's point.

I'm all for fighters getting more money. And if anyone should be able to squeeze a bit more out of them, it's McGregor considering how big a star he's become/the business they do off his fights.

Again, it's the timing for me. If he'd said all this when the Diaz rematch was first being negotiated I'd totally get it. Asking for 10mil, trying to negotiate doing less promotional work etc. But he signed for the fight first, so you'd assume he was happy with what he was getting. The fight was official, wasn't it? To agree to the terms, which includes promoting the fight, then pull out just seems a bit weird to me. Maybe he was voicing this in the initial negotiations but regardless, at the end of it he agreed terms and signed the contract.

Whatever the case, I hope it can be resolved. Even if McGregor wants to retire after UFC 200, I'd like to see that Diaz rematch on the biggest PPV since 100 at least. It'd be cool to see Nate get that spotlight and payday as well. He won't make that kind of dough with anyone else, except maybe GSP.

He's not asked for more money Wand. The 10m is newspaper. He's just asked to do less promo.

 

The very fact that he stepped up to fight on the 200 show only four months after his first fight with Nate surprised the shit out of me if i'm honest. I didn't see him coming back so early, but he's stepped up. Again.

 

 

His choice though, no? He could've taken loads of time off like Rhonda & the UFC would've been cool with it.

 

The guy needs time to train.

 

 

Absolutely, just like all the other fighters on this card. Good thing the events 3 months away.

 

 

 

If this was Jon Jones or someone else saying this people on this forum would be jumping all over them. 'Doesn't he understand how business works', 'He simply doesn't get it' etc etc. 

 

As it stands. He chose to sign for the fight. Knew exactly what that would entail & since changed his mind. Spat his dummy out. 'Retired'. Then said he's not retired but doesn't want to do all the things he knew he had to in the first place.

 

Do we all not think it's still about money now?

 

 

No they wouldn't, because Jones, and no one else, has done what Mcgregor has done. 

 

Come on Mike, the promotion this guy has done has gone above and beyond anyone in the history of MMA has ever done. He was absolutely frazzled and more than deserves the request he made. 

 

 

Again, he did a cracking PR job before but it wasn't entirely selfless, the benefit was mutual. Now he's the only fighter on the 200 card who doesn't have to attend the media stuff at this weekends event?  He's not being asked to do anything above & beyond from what I can see?

 

 

It's not the event that's the problem. He asked for one favour, and they've refused.

 

I completely agree that the benefit was mutual, but at the end of it, I think it's ok for him to reflect upon and go, christ, what I did there was far too much. I think I remember reading that for 9 months he never even got to sleep in his own bed at home because he was on jets and staying in hotel rooms flying around the world. It was the UFC who created this schedule and being the company man that he is or was, he agreed to do it. He even agreed to film a series of TUF, despite the fact he really didn't want to, as the UFC were desperate to rescue the show. Again, he agreed, at the detriment of his own physical well being. 

 

Really, who else in the entire company went through what he did? At the end of the day, he's an athlete Mike and imagine how that impacted on his preparation and general fitness?

I maybe a Mcgregor fan, but I hope to god most people read that and realise how much a bunch of cunts the UFC and Dana White are.

 

White the cunt came out initially saying that Mcgregor wasn't going to do ANY promotion for 200. That's obviously a lie.

 

The mind boggles that White and the UFC are happy to negate millions upon millions of dollars, whilst fucking up their biggest event, for this one promotional event. Utter madness. Mcgregor has even said he's willing to attend the scheduled press conference closer to the event. Just what exactly does the UFC fucking need from him that he's not offering??? 

Crazy.

 

Edit:- Come on Mike, the promotion this guy has done has gone above and beyond anyone in the history of MMA has ever done. He was absolutely frazzled and more than deserves the request he made. 

And here it is...from his facebook...

 

https://www.facebook.com/thenotoriousmma/posts/1260441947357435

 

I am just trying to do my job and fight here. 
I am paid to fight. I am not yet paid to promote.
I have become lost in the game of promotion and forgot about the art of fighting. 
There comes a time when you need to stop handing out flyers and get back to the damn shop.
50 world tours, 200 press conferences, 1 million interviews, 2 million photo shoots, and at the end of it all I'm left looking down the barrel of a lens, staring defeat in the face, thinking of nothing but my incorrect fight preparation. And the many distractions that led to this. 
Nothing else was going through my mind. 
It is time to go back and live the life that got me this life.
Sitting in a car on the way to some dump in Conneticut or somewhere, to speak to Tim and Suzie on the nobody gives a fuck morning show did not get me this life. 
Talking to some lady that deep down doesn't give a fuck about what I'm doing, but just wants some sound bites so she can maybe get her little tight ass a nice raise, and I'm cool with that too, I've been giving you all raises. But I need to focus on me now.
I'm coming for my revenge here. 
I flew an entire team to Portugal and to Iceland to make my adjustments in preparation and fix my errors I made with the weight and the cardio prep. 
With the right adjustments and the right focus, I will finish what I started in that last fight. 
I will not do this if I am back on the road handing out flyers again.
I will always play the game and play it better than anybody, but just for this one, where I am coming off a loss, I asked for some leeway where I can just train and focus. I did not shut down all media requests. I simply wanted a slight adjustment.
But it was denied. 
There had been 10 million dollars allocated for the promotion of this event is what they told me. 
So as a gesture of good will, I went and not only saved that 10 million dollars in promotion money, I then went and tripled it for them. 
And all with one tweet.
Keep that 10 mill to promote the other bums that need it. My shows are good. 
I must isolate myself now.
I am facing a taller, longer and heavier man. I need to prepare correctly this time. 
I can not dance for you this time.
It is time for the other monkeys to dance. I've danced us all the way here. 
Nate's little mush head looks good up on that stage these days. Stuff him in front of the camera for it. 
He came in with no shit to do that last one. I'd already done press conferences, interviews and shot the ads before RDA pulled out.
Maybe I'll hit Cabo this time and skull some shots pre-fight with no obligation.
I'm doing what I need for me now. 
It is time to be selfish with my training again. It is the only way. 
I feel the $400million I have generated for the company in my last three events, all inside 8 months, is enough to get me this slight leeway. 
I am still ready to go for UFC 200. 
I will offer, like I already did, to fly to New York for the big press conference that was scheduled, and then I will go back into training. With no distractions.
If this is not enough or they feel I have not deserved to sit this promotion run out this one time, well then I don't know what to say. 
For the record also - 
For USADA and for the UFC and my contract stipulations - 
I AM NOT RETIRED.

In all honesty, I've never been into the paid member forum. Nothing against the fine chaps...or pricks you fellas refer as haha, but I can barely muster anything of worth reading for anyone in a subject I enjoy, let alone random shit in a different forum.

 

I simply gave a fiver because this forum doesn't run on fucking sliced bread. There's people behind it who have to give up their time to make sure us cunts are able to talk complete bollocks about MMA.

It was the least I could do really. 

Anyone with a bit a spare time, here's the latest Fighter and the kid podcast with Schaub and Callen talking about the Mcgregor fallout. Starts about 5 mins in. Really good listen.

 

https://soundcloud.com/fighterandthekid/episode-143#t=5:30

 

 

 

 

On a serious note can we get the boxing thread moved over here from the off-topic?

 

Makes sense to IMO.

But Boxing isn't MMA.

Boxing's a form of martial-art though. Personally think it'd suit being in here far more than lost in the off-topic.

MMA is MMA. Boxing is boxing.

 

The forum would have to be renamed combat sports forum.

 

I know what you're saying that boxing is closer to MMA than whatever is in the off topic forum, but if you start there then football comes into question since its a sport.

 

There were mentions of a sport forum, but it was decided this place was only for mma.

 

I'm sure there are boxing fans who aren't interested in MMA who post in that thread too.

On a serious note can we get the boxing thread moved over here from the off-topic?

 

Makes sense to IMO.

 

But Boxing isn't MMA. 

I won't have a bad word said about David. He may drive me nuts on the odd occasion, but I love the guy. 

It's really fascinating to see exactly who cracks first. I certainly don't think there's any chance they will sort out their differences in time for UFC 200.

Will it be the UFC who caves in first when they see the subsequent plummeting buy rates? Or will it be Mcrgregor once he sees his bank balance take a hit due to his lavish spending?

That said, I think Mcgregor will be set for life already, so he doesn't need to fight anymore. He's always maintained he was going to retire young and 'bounce' as he put it, but can he step away from the limelight this early in his career?

 

The irish papers are pushing the financial dispute angle. I still can't see how it would be financial considering Mcgregor only a few weeks ago when the bout agreement was signed, tweeted a pic of him and Lorenzo looking happy as pig in shit, proclaiming "good business".

 

 

 

As of March 29th..

 

So assume we can have a separate thread for each Fight Night now? And bigger news items can also have their own thread?

Wand's going to have to work overtime for this place.