Just a few years ago most people would not be capable to tell you what the UFC was, let alone the name of the fighter. Fast forward to 2017 and not only have the UFC events taken over from boxing as the most watched fighting event, but the fighters themselves became bona fide celebrity superstars.
For example 28 year old UFC fighter Conor McGregor, “The Notorious Fighter” has become a household name over the last 12 months and is rumored to have an estimated net worth of $22 million and made a staggering $3 million for his rematch against Nate Diaz. Indeed, the 2016 UFC 202 rematch had a much higher buy-in rate than boxing’s biggest fight of the year, Alvarez vs Khan, – a a staggering 1,650,000 to 600,000 comparison. There’s little doubt that given the fight between boxing and the UFC, the latter will pack a knockout punch.
But it is not just in the ring, or rather the pentagon, that McGregor makes headlines. Now the Irish fighter has been crowned in 2017 Europe 30 Under 30 list of the most influential social stars in all of Europe. Which is an amazing accomplishment for a sports personality as the list also includes highly successful people in sectors such as business, finance and media.
McGregor also made history in 2016 by becoming the first mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter to make the Forbes list. The 100 highest paid athletes for that year. But despite making the list at number 85 and holding some of the highest PPV views of the year, boxers still come out with their earnings. For example, 39-year-old Floyd Mayweather, who is 16th on the list with a net worth of $350, made over $40 million last year in retirement. So even although McGregor is becoming probably the most popular sportsmen in the world, he still has a long way to go before he accumulates the same financial status as Mayweather. Yet it is still an amazing accomplishment in a tattered McGregor-to-riches story. Remember, this is a guy who started out as a plumber who had to cash welfare checks to survive.
Of course, the rumors are that Mayweather plans to come out of retirement for one last fight, none aside from against McGregor himself in the super epic UFC vs Boxing match with each fighter receiving a $25 million and PPV earnings cut. Despite the undeniable fact that Mayweather has shut down the rumours about him ever returning to fight, the undeniable fact that he and McGregor are still actively taunting one another via social media and in the media suggests that a fight could still occur – particularly if Mayweather lands a $100 million payout. he asked before.
Even if the Mayweather fight never happens, there isn’t any scarcity of fighters desperate to have an opportunity against McGregor to prove their worth. Add to that the undeniable fact that McGregor is actively being pursued by WWE to appear and is rumored for roles in diverse films and it is obvious that Conor McGregor will continue to rise to the superstar ranks in 2017.
