After an electric night at UFC 300, Dana White summed up his job in one line, “I sell holy s— moments for a living.” And if there’s one fighter who mastered the art of delivering those moments, it’s prime Conor McGregor. Yet, as talk of his UFC return starts to lose steam among MMA fans, ‘The Notorious’ isn’t ready to fade into the background just yet.
In a recent social media post, the Irish MMA icon sent a simple message to the UFC boss. With a throwback video from his fight against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, McGregor made his stance known. But with financial storms brewing over his business empire, could this be a sign that his long-awaited return is imminent?
Conor McGregor demands a “call” from Dana White in a surprising message on social media
On his latest Instagram story, Conor McGregor put up a video with the caption, “Call me #anytime #anyweight #anyone #anywhere.” The message was intriguing, but what captured the attention of the MMA sphere was the video below the message. At UFC 246 in 2020, McGregor, returning from a long layoff, didn’t just win, he obliterated Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds. It was the second-fastest finish of his career, trailing only his legendary 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo.
White’s reaction? In the video, the UFC boss can be seen backstage with the Irishman and he states, “F— wow. Seriously. F—- wow.” In a voiceover that played over the video, White’s voice can be heard exclaiming, “Every Saturday night I got to make people jump out of their seats and say holy s— and whether he won or lost the fight every Conor fight, it was a holy s— fight.”
Then White, still in disbelief, asks the people present backstage, “Anyone else as blown away as I am? Am I the only guy in the whole place… I did not see that coming. I thought it was gonna be a war.”
For Conor McGregor, the ‘Cowboy’ fight wasn’t just about winning. It was redemption. He had lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 just two years prior in 2018, and with the win over Cerrone, ‘The Notorious’ aura had re-ignited.
But here’s the real question, why now? Conor McGregor’s message comes at a time when his return to the UFC remains one of the sport’s biggest mysteries. And a deeper examination of his sprawling business empire paints a worrying trend for the Irish MMA icon.
Storm clouds gather over McGregor’s empire with financial losses mounting
Is Conor McGregor setting the stage for his long-awaited comeback? He was initially expected to face Michael Chandler in 2024, but since that fight fell through, the hopes of his return have vanished into thin air.
One thing is certain, his financial situation could make an MMA return more appealing than ever. Reports have emerged that paint a worrying picture. His Forged Irish Stout brand is reportedly sinking fast, hemorrhaging nearly $9 million in losses.
His real estate empire has also taken a massive hit, with reports of $6.2 million in accumulated losses. Even his beloved pub, The Black Forge Inn, is feeling the heat. And due to the Nikita Hand civil trial fallout, McGregor has found major UK and Irish retailers pulling his stout from their shelves.
This is where the UFC and Dana White could come in. A blockbuster return fight would do more than just put him back in the spotlight. It would bring in a payday that could stabilize his empire. But will it become a reality? Or is this just another way for Conor McGregor to keep his name afloat in the MMA sphere? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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