If Conor McGregor is to be believed, a massive crossover exhibition fight with Logan Paul is in the works. The problem is that it’s hard to believe the Irishman and his social media posts.
On Tuesday, the former two-division UFC champion claimed to have made “preliminary agreements” to box his older brother Paul in India. McGregor said the Ambani family, whose patriarch Mukesh Ambani is one of the world’s richest people, is involved in the business. McGregor’s claims followed rumors that a fight between McGregor and current UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria would pit the two fighters against each other. denied.
A boxing match between McGregor and social media superstar Paul would be a major box office attraction, but there is little reason to believe it will happen at the moment. Contract restrictions, personnel matters and the habit of blowing smoke should give pause to anyone excited about McGregor vs. Paul.
McGregor is under UFC contract
UFC contracts are notoriously restrictive. UFC fighters are independent contractors who cannot compete for other combat sports promotions without approval from the UFC. McGregor was only allowed to box Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017 by bringing in the UFC as a promoter. The UFC has made a few exceptions lately, like allowing Jorge Masvidal to box Nate Diaz in July, but those situations are rare. Francis Ngannou vacated his UFC heavyweight championship and left for the Professional Fighters League in part because the UFC reportedly would not allow him to box.
McGregor vs. Paul is dead on arrival unless the UFC gets involved. Jake Paul, Logan’s brother, addressed the UFC’s involvement while claiming that McGregor’s management team reached out to Paul’s most valuable promotions. Jake was unusually cordial toward White given their frequent clashes in the media. It’s unclear how much of a barrier White and Paul’s relationship would pose to booking the fight, given that Logan and KSI’s PRIME drink is an official sponsor of the UFC.
McGregor claimed he would box Paul before returning to the Octagon. This is unlikely to happen given that White and Co. would like McGregor’s first appearance in a combat sport in over three years to be in the Octagon first and foremost. McGregor can explore boxing more easily in free agency by completing the two fights that would remain on his UFC contract.
Logan is a new dad
“I’m retired. I’m a dad, my brother,” Paul said last week on the “Impaulsive” podcast discussing his involvement in WrestleMania 41.
It was more of a passing comment than a permanent retirement, but it’s enough to suggest that the part-time WWE superstar isn’t gearing up for anything in the fight space at the moment. Paul and his fiancée, Nina Agdel, welcomed their first daughter in September. Paul hasn’t wrestled in WWE since August and hasn’t boxed since beating Dillon Danis by disqualification in October 2023. The money involved in McGregor vs. Paul would certainly be enticing, but Paul has not publicly showed the desire to resume his sporting activity. career.
The Irishman Who Cried Wolf
McGregor was once magnetic. Every bold claim came to fruition, from knocking out Jose Aldo to boxing Mayweather. These days, McGregor is less “Mystic Mac” and crazier next door neighbor. McGregor has offered fights with almost every big name in combat sports – Dustin Poirier, Islam Makhachev, Nate Diaz, Jake Paul, etc. But he hasn’t fought since being stopped twice by Poirier in 2021. McGregor’s long-awaited return was rumored to happen against Michael Chandler at UFC 303. After bowing out with a toe injuryMcGregor lost his remaining goodwill with the fan base. McGregor fatigue has set in among fans. It’s hard to take what he says seriously until a contractual agreement and promotional announcement are attached to it.
