Conor McGregor has publicly claimed that a potential two-fight deal involving boxing champion Terence Crawford was rejected by the American fighter. During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, McGregor alleged that a proposal—backed by Saudi General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh—offered Crawford $200 million for a two-bout series consisting of one MMA match and one boxing match.
The Proposed Two-Fight Structure
The proposed deal sought to bridge the gap between mixed martial arts and professional boxing, a crossover model McGregor has frequently participated in throughout his career. According to McGregor’s account on The Ariel Helwani Show, the agreement required both competitors to step outside their primary disciplines.
"I got on the phone, ‘What’s the craic, Terence? It’s the Mac Daddy. I got [Turki] here,’" McGregor stated during the interview. "We’ve got a big deal for you. It’s hundreds of millions, $200 million to be exact. Mixed martial arts against me, and a boxing one against you."
Why the Deal Did Not Materialize
McGregor alleged that Crawford declined the offer specifically due to the inclusion of an MMA contest. The UFC star claimed that Crawford’s refusal stemmed from an aversion to the physical elements of the sport, particularly leg kicks.
"I don’t want to be kicked by you. No way," McGregor claimed Crawford responded.
This exchange follows a period of public friction between the two athletes. Tension intensified recently after Crawford publicly mocked UFC fighter Ilia Topuria following his performance at a high-profile event. McGregor, who has previously criticized the crossover trend as often producing one-sided results, used the incident to highlight the differences in combat philosophies between pure boxers and MMA fighters.
Context of Crossover Combat Sports
The involvement of Turki Alalshikh in this negotiation aligns with his recent strategy of financing high-profile combat sports events in Saudi Arabia. Alalshikh has been instrumental in organizing major boxing cards, such as the undisputed heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
While McGregor has engaged in high-profile crossover events—most notably his 2017 boxing match against Floyd Mayweather—the transition for a career boxer into an MMA cage remains rare. No official statement from Terence Crawford or Turki Alalshikh’s office has confirmed the specific financial figures or the formal existence of this offer as of October 2024.
Key Considerations for Combat Fans
- Sporting Differences: A professional boxer competing in MMA faces significant challenges due to the inclusion of grappling, submissions, and kicks, which are absent in traditional boxing.
- Financial Scope: The $200 million figure mentioned by McGregor would represent one of the largest purses in combat sports history, rivaling the highest-earning bouts in both boxing and MMA.
- Public Rivalry: The verbal back-and-forth between McGregor and Crawford has largely played out on social media platforms, reflecting the modern trend of athlete-led promotion outside of official fight contracts.
As of now, neither party has indicated that active negotiations for such a bout are currently underway.
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