The UFC is in dire need of a superstar to return to the Octagon after a less than exciting year of fights, and Conor McGregor is the only fighter with the draw power to rake in the cash they need.
McGregor hasn't been inside the Octagon since November of last year when he became the first dual-weight champion in UFC history. The Irishman downed Eddie Alvarez in the second round of their UFC 205 main event meeting via knockout to capture the 155-pound title. It was the UFC's first event in Madison Square Garden.
After the victory McGregor stated that he would be taking some time off to enjoy the birth of his first child, however, just a few months later a mega-fight between he and Floyd Mayweather Jr. was announced in the boxing world.
McGregor lost the fight via 10th round TKO and expressed his intent to fight inside the Octagon next. In his absence top-ranked lightweight Tony Ferguson captured the division's interim lightweight crown to virtually guarantee him a shot at McGregor next.
A fight between the pair would certainly be one of the most interesting match-ups the UFC can put on today. Contract negotiations between McGregor and the UFC are currently ongoing for his next fight, but the Irishman just dished out a huge demand that the UFC may not be able to compensate.
In a recent interview, McGregor claimed that he wants a ownership stake in the UFC before he steps into the cage again (quotes via MMA Fighting):
“We’ll see,” McGregor said. “We’re in the process of negotiations, there’s a couple of opponents across different sports now in play, there’s the boxing game also.
“We’re in the contract negotiation stage,” McGregor said. “It’s got to, they’ve got to entice me now because, I came from a billion-dollar fight.
"I want equity, I want pay-per-view. I want to be a true partner. You have to entice me now. I want to be a partner. I want to be a promoter and I want to be a fighter for me to continue.”
What are your thoughts on McGregor demanding an ownership stake in the UFC before he steps into the Octagon again? Do you think this is something the UFC will give up since they're in dire need of getting the Irishman back in the cage? Or will this lead to some heated negotiations between the two sides? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: http://gms.to/writeforgms