McGregor was questioned on why, in light of the many postponements of his return match in recent months, he hasn’t been able to demand his UFC fight date.
Conor McGregor has expressed his displeasure at not being able to demand a fight date as Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua can.
The legendary UFC fighter Conor McGregor has apparently postponed his comeback match against Michael Chandler multiple times, but it is now scheduled for the summer. The bout between McGregor and Chandler was teased a year prior when they were coaching against one another in season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter.
Combat sports reporter Ariel Helwani quizzed McGregor on his uncertain return date by asking him on The MMA Hour: “Anthony Joshua doesn’t wait for the call from Eddie Hearn, Tyson Fury doesn’t wait for the call from Frank Warren. Conor McGregor shouldn’t wait for the call from anyone, the date should be built around you.”
McGregor responded by saying: “It’s fair enough, I have two fights left on the contract and we’ve got to do something else or do we? I don’t know, surely. Nobody brings the figures I bring, or ever, all of these things will I’m sure be worked out and ironed out with my management staple Paradigm Sports in our next stage of relations.”
McGregor has out-lined his three-fight plan for this year, which starts with a bout against Chandler, a trilogy fight with Nate Diaz in September and a boxing return against Manny Pacquiao in December. The former two-weight champion insisted he is hoping to stay with the UFC despite not being offered a new deal.
“There’s been no talks about no deals,” he added. “Usually Lorenzo [Fertitta] would have had something tasty on my plate well ago, Lorenzo would have re-signed me two fights ago even. I know they know I’m up, but what way do you approach it? I’m a billionaire, Mr B. So what way do you come at someone like me?
“I just ride the wave and then I don’t know after that, but that’s my catalogue and my life. The UFC is what made me and gave me this, I love the company with all of my being. It’s the best and most iconic fighting organisation there’s ever been and I’m all over it, I f****ing love that. I’d love to carry it on, I hope.”