Over the past few months we've written about Conor McGregor many, many times. But, besides the occasional hypothetical bout that's thrown out there by a fading fighter clinging to relevance (more on that in a sec), very little of our McGregor content is about the business that made him famous. In fact, these days it's far more likely for media to be writing about how his hot-headedness has gotten him into trouble with, say, a ref or (possibly) the Irish mob, than it is to be about him fighting in an organized event.
Still, he does occasionally tease a return to fighting. And, now that he has exactly one professional boxing match under his belt, his marketing options are even more open to drive up the price. On Thursday, during a talk with one of his sponsors, McGregor stated that his focus was on getting back into the ring/octagon if and when a willing party was prepared to offer enough cash to get him to do so.
"My focus is getting back into the right ring or octagon. 2017 was historic. I have transcended both the sport of MMA and boxing," he said. "At this stage of my career, as it has been for the majority of my UFC career, potential opponents must lobby for fights with me. We could see Conor McGregor anywhere. I run the fight game, the fashion game, the whiskey game, or whatever the next business endeavour might be."
McGregor continued, "I have every intention of fighting in 2018 if my compensation and business development endeavors accurately reflect my influence on combat sports."
With that in mind, McGregor and Manny Pacquiao are reportedly discussing terms for a fight which could take place as early as April 2018. Unless it's a negotiating tactic or a premature report (both of which I'd say are extremely possible) it sounds like the ring will take precedence over the octagon once again in 2018.
Either way, Dana White's probably pissed.
