UFC champion Conor McGregor is never hesitant to discuss money. Today, however, he put a price tag on his financial gains from a busy 2016 fight campaign.
The year has already been very good to McGregor (20-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC). It could get even better, though, if he earns a victory over Eddie Alvarez (28-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) in the UFC 205 main event, which takes place Nov. 12 at Madison Square Garden in New York, with the main card on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.
McGregor’s showdown with Alvarez will mark his third UFC appearance of the year. He split a pair of contests with Nate Diaz, losing the first at UFC 196 in March then avenging the loss at UFC 202 in August. The two fights reportedly landed in the top-three of the UFC’s all-time best selling pay-per-views, proving the drawing power of “The Notorious.”
When asked how UFC 205 specifically will improve the numbers in his bank account, McGregor didn’t answer directly. Instead, he skipped ahead to answer what his year-end total will apparently look like.
“I feel by the time 2016 closes out, I’ll be closing in on $40 million,” McGregor said at the UFC 205 news conference. “This is a $40 million year for me. A damn good year.”
Although McGregor sells the image of having countless riches by showcasing his expensive suits, watches and cars, his opponent, Alvarez, is quite the opposite. The Philadelphia-born fighter is a family man that doesn’t appear to live too far outside his means, and it’s very likely UFC 205 will mark by far the most lucrative fight of his career.
It could have been a lot more lucrative, though, according to McGregor. The brash Irishman said Alvarez won’t be paid any more than his previous octagon appearance to fight in the marquee matchup, and used that to mock the 155-pound champion.
“He’s very lucky to be in the position he’s in,” McGregor said. “He understands that. That’s why he took this fight on the money he was on the last fight. That says it all.”
McGregor and Alvarez exchanged many words at the UFC 205 news conference, some of a more heated fashion than others. McGregor said he isn’t buying any of Alvarez’s trash talk, though, mainly because he’s heard it all before.
“He’s just another broke bum trying to sell some (expletive),” McGregor said. “He’s broke and he’s desperate and he’s trying to make it, ‘McGregor’s this, McGregor’s that.’ We’ve heard it all before. He’s just another broke bum that can’t afford to pay his bills. That’s all it is.”