By Chisanga Malata, courtesy of The Daily Star
CONOR MCGREGOR has revealed he would've forfeited a large portion of his purse for fighting Floyd Mayweather had he been disqualified.
Ireland's first UFC belt holder took on 'Money' Mayweather in a multi-million-pound boxing match in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 26.
Prior to the much-maligned bout, many fight fans were worried McGregor could use an illegal move in his pursuit to become the first man to defeat Mayweather, a feat he failed to achieve.
UFC president Dana White repeatedly allayed those fears during the build-up to the contest, claiming McGregor would suffer a huge financial blow if he'd kicked, kneed or elbowed Mayweather.
According to McGregor, had he opted to use an illegal blow he would've been fined $10 million.
Speaking at a Q&A session in Glasgow, the UFC lightweight champion said: "Here's when I knew I was up against it: The ref was like, even if I lift my leg up, it's a point deduction. I'm like, 'How is that a point deduction without even a warning?'
“So they're telling me they're going to deduct points straight off the bat. And if I do get disqualified for any reason, it was a $10 million fine. Ten million f***ing dollars."
In McGregor's eyes, Mayweather's team had the stipulation put into the contract as they didn't believe he was taking the contest seriously.
He added: "They were ** up all these f***ing stipulations like I wasn't taking it seriously. Like I didn't have a hall-of-fame referee at my camp present at every single spar. Do you know what I mean?
"I had a boxing referee in Ireland, a great boxing referee in Ireland and then Joe Cortez in Vegas, every single spar. I put in so much work and had given so much respect to the rule set and the discipline, I was kind of expecting it back."
McGregor was upset with the outcome of his professional boxing debut and believes a rematch would see a different result.
He said: "I know if I went another go with him, under boxing rules, I'd get that win, I know that. I know by the feeling of him in the first fight.
"He had to change his whole approach. He fought completely than he (usually) fought, he couldn't figure out what I was doing early on. I feel with the lessons I learned from that first fight, if I had another go around, I'd get him."
McGregor, 29, hasn't set foot inside the Octagon since his historic UFC 205 victory over Eddie Alvarez, a win which saw him become the first fighter in UFC history to hold two titles simultaneously.
2023-10-19 16:51:32
