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Conor McGregor versus Dana White. Who would have thought 2025 would start this way? The UFC CEO had prev͏iously͏ tease͏d a mon͏umental fig͏ht at the ic͏oni͏c Colo͏sseum between two of ͏the world’s͏ richest figures, Elo͏n Musk and Mar͏k Zucke͏rberg, during their heat͏ed rivalry pertaining to Musk’s ‘X’ and Zuckerberg’s ‘Threads’. Both billionaire entrepreneurs stated that they would clash similar to influencer boxing fights, but in MMA, and White was pretty keen on making that fight happen at the 2000-year-old Colosseum. However, when ͏th͏e figh͏t fell͏ throu͏gh, White ͏seemi͏ngl͏y abando͏ne͏d ͏his amb͏i͏tion͏s͏ in Italy.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

In a conversation on the ‘Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson’ podcast, White stated in August 2024, “We were talking about the Colosseum for that fight, and I actually did have a meeting with the Minister of Culture’s team in Italy to actually hold that fight in the Colosseum if it would happen.”

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Imagine this. An arena that once hosted towering gladiators engage in brutal combat was considered a potential stage for two nerdy tech entrepreneurs to face off. But it seems Conor McGregor has a better idea. Step aside Dana White!

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Conor McGregor announced this week that BKFC—where ‘Mystic Mac’ is a part-owner—will be making inroads in the Southern EU nation in April next year. As if that wasn’t big news in itself, ‘Mystic Mac’ has bagged the Maori sensation Haze Hepi to make his debut at the Florence event. Sharing the news on his Instagram handle, McGregor captioned it, “Excited to see this Māori tribesman make his bare-knuckle debut in Italy!”

BKFC is valued at $411 million.

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Haze Hepi and Conor McGregor share a͏ cl͏ose friendship, as͏ last year the Maori fighter gif͏ted a traditional ko͏rowai, ͏made by ͏Kiwi Girl CreationZ, ͏to t͏he former dual-wei͏ght ͏champion. What was McGrego͏r’s reactio͏n͏, you a͏sk?͏ Well, ‘Mystic Ma͏c͏’ embrac͏ed the gift representing M͏aori culture, making combat fans p͏roud.

‘The Notorious’ has completely embraced his responsibilities as a promoter and part-owner of the BKFC. But what about his status as a fighter?

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Conor McGregor vs Logan Paul $500 million fight raises questions!

Last week, Conor McGregor announced that he would clash against Logan Paul for an exhibition fight in the South Asian country of India in 2025. This news sent shockwaves across the MMA community, specifically keeping in mind the fact that McGregor was still under the UFC contract.

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Many fans questioned how things would work out. Let us not forget that Dana White might not let that happen. Even former MMA referee John McCarthy hinted at a potential legal action against ‘The Notorious’ if he fights Logan Paul.

While having a conversation on the Weighing In podcast, ‘Big’ John McCarthy stated, “The real question is – his contract with the UFC. The only way for him to get that fight is they’ve got to allow it. If he signed that contract, they could sue him. Will he pay? Can they get the money from him? I can’t say that.”

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He further added, “But does he want to go out in that fashion? That doesn’t make sense. $250 million dollars – he can make some strange choices.”

The rumored clash between Conor McGregor and Logan Paul is set to happen at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India. As per reports, the financial payout is $250 million for each fighter.

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However, none of the stakeholders except McGregor said anything about the fight. Regardless, what is your take on McGregor’s decision? Do you think he will ever fight in the UFC again? Let us know in the comments down below.

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Suryakant Das

3,440 Articles

Suryakant Das is a senior writer who leads UFC live coverage at EssentiallySports, known for his broad expertise and standout professionalism in MMA journalism. Over two years in the field, he has become a key voice on real-time event updates, pre- and post-fight interviews, and analysis of viral moments from the Joe Rogan Experience. His dynamic reporting is backed by selection to the Journalistic Excellence Program, which hones advanced editorial skills and strategic coverage approaches for top talent. Suryakant’s career is defined by his ability to deliver both speed and depth. His versatile background spans sports journalism, content writing, and editorial roles, helping him navigate fast-paced live coverage and deliver meaningful stories with clarity and precision. Recognition from respected MMA figures such as Nina-Marie Daniele and Hall of Famer Michael Bisping further marks him as a trusted authority in the UFC community.

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Syed Rahil Ahmed

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