Even before he broke his foot, Conor McGregor hasn’t been as active as he was in his prime, when he fought at least twice a year, and three times in 2015 and 2016. He also has lost three of his last four games. , his win over Donald Cerrone in 2020 was his only win in the last seven years.
What could be the reason for this lack of activity and series of losses? If you believe Dana White’s even richer persona, 35-year-old Conor McGregor’s richness is entirely to blame.
Dana White says Conor McGregor quit UFC because of money
Like many MMA fighters these days, Conor McGregor turned to boxing to earn a career-high salary. Apart from that huge sum for Floyd Mayweather, McGregor also sold his ownership stake in Proper Twelve Whiskey for $150 million.
According to White, no matter your skill level, making that kind of money completely changes you.
“I’m sure you’ve seen this with your colleagues, friends and acquaintances,” Dana White said in an interview. Piers Morgan. “When you reach a certain level of money and become the person you’ve always wanted to be, be hungry and work hard and focus on sports and other professions, money changes everything.” Conor McGregor That’s how much money I made. That’s not a knock. It’s just a fact.”
White also seemed to be alluding to former UFC executives, such as notorious matchmaker Joe Silva, who retired after receiving large paychecks in promotional sales.
“When we sold the company in 2016, it was like a battle for Microsoft. There were a lot of people who made a lot of money, but a lot of people quit, retired or moved on. I did… It takes a certain kind of drive to make that kind of money,” White said.
Does Conor McGregor no longer have the hunger and drive?
“When you make that much money in this sport, you’ve seen guys like Conor who don’t get many fights or lose a lot of games. “You’re not the same person anymore,” White said.
“Hunger and drive are not the same thing,” White argued. “Conor McGregor is the perfect example. Everything Conor McGregor ever dreamed of and could never dream of in his life, he now has. On a yacht all summer long. I say it’s hard to ride, so I have to get back in the gym and start training. Again, this is not a shock, that’s how life is.”
Of course, Dana White is still working hard and thriving in the UFC, even years after being able to achieve everything he ever dreamed of. But as his incredibly wealthy and newly promoted UFC CEO pointed out, it takes a special “drive” like his to keep practicing when you have that much money.
That’s probably a rare trait.Perhaps because White wants to keep his athletes sharp and “hungry,” the UFC It is estimated that only 13% of revenues in 2022 went to fighters. Maybe he cares so much about his fighters’ success that he just doesn’t want them to end up like the countless highly paid stars of boxing, the NBA, and the NFL…
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About the author
Anton Tabuena is the editor-in-chief of Bloody Elbow. He has been covering his MMA and martial arts since 2009 and has also fought in MMA, Muay Thai, and Kickboxing.
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