Former UFC champion Conor McGregor may have been out of action for a few years, but his controversial and trash-talking persona has kept him in the spotlight. Often dubbed the ‘King of Trash Talk’ in combat sports history, McGregor is currently on hiatus and planning his return to the Octagon against Michael Chandler. Despite this, he frequently takes digs at rivals like Khabib Nurmagomedov on social media.

McGregor’s social media post last year recently went viral again when he, with the help of his friend and football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, took aim at another rival, the undefeated boxing champion Floyd Mayweather.

Throwback: McGrego’s dig at Mayweather claims

Last December, Conor McGregor made headlines when he attended the much-anticipated boxing match between Anthony Joshua and Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia. The event itself was already buzzing, but it reached a fever pitch when fans realized that McGregor and football legend Cristiano Ronaldo were sitting together in the front row. Their lively banter quickly went viral, capturing the imagination of sports enthusiasts across social media.

Recently, this memorable moment resurfaced when McGregor used a photo of himself laughing with Ronaldo to take a jab at Floyd Mayweather on X. The Irishman captioned the photo, “$250,000,000 for a fight,” mocking Mayweather’s long-standing claim that he earned that amount from their 2017 bout—a figure that many still dispute today.

Back in 2017, McGregor made the bold decision to step out of his MMA comfort zone to fight Mayweather, a move that didn’t sit well with UFC CEO Dana White. Despite losing the match, McGregor’s relentless trash talk and charisma turned the fight into a media sensation, earning him an estimated $100 million payday. But this lucrative difference in earnings has once again come under scrutiny, as one of McGregor’s former MMA rivals recently reignited the debate, bringing new attention to the Irishman’s controversial venture into boxing.

MMA legend dashes high pay hopes for McGregor’s opponents

There’s a growing belief in the UFC that fighting Conor McGregor is a surefire ticket to the highest payday—a superstition recently underscored by call-outs from fighters like Dan Hooker and Ilia Topuria. However, the reality is more complex than it appears. While McGregor himself walks away with a hefty paycheck, his opponents receive only what’s stipulated in their contracts, which often falls far short of the rumored windfalls. This disparity in earnings was brought to light by Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, who faced McGregor back in 2020. His revelation may come as a sobering reminder to Michael Chandler, McGregor’s upcoming opponent, who’s eagerly anticipating his own “Red Panty Night.”

In a candid interview with Rodeo Time, Cerrone debunked the myth that fighting McGregor automatically results in a massive payday for his opponents. He explained, “So everyone was like, ‘Red panty night, you got paid.’ No, I didn’t. I got paid what I always got paid, which is good. I ain’t complaining.” Cerrone went on to clarify that he doesn’t hold UFC President Dana White responsible for his earnings, stating, “I’m not making s*** up saying, ‘Dana, he owes me money.’ I made great money in my career. I’m good.”

For his fight against McGregor, the MMA Twitter page MMAUncensored reported that Cerrone earned just $200,000, while McGregor boasted about potentially making $80 million from the same bout. Despite this stark contrast, Cerrone holds no grudges against McGregor. Instead, he expressed admiration for the Irishman, saying,*”Kudos to Conor. What a good dude and what a name to make for yourself, that’s what I’m talking about. The well-oiled machine deserves $100 million, he went out there and did that. Good for you.”

As McGregor continues to taunt Floyd Mayweather without receiving a response, his sights are set on a super fight against Michael Chandler. Yet, the future of this much-anticipated bout remains uncertain. Both fighters are ready to go, but Dana White appears hesitant to pull the trigger. Will this fight come to fruition, or is it just another chapter in McGregor’s unpredictable career? Stay tuned to find out.