We're about a month away from the superfight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor. As the media buzz continues to build, one topic of discussion is if McGregor will ever fight in the UFC again.
If McGregor is smart, he'll not only avoid the UFC, he'll refrain from ever fighting again, period.
Look at it this way: McGregor is going to make in excess of $100 million for fighting Mayweather. That's life-changing money. Boxing and the UFC are both grueling sports; fighters put themselves through a lot of punishment. Why would McGregor return to that environment when he's set for life?
"He might never fight again. That's part of the deal," UFC President Dana White said. "This kid has done a lot for this sport, a lot for this company. This is the fight they wanted, so we're going to give it to him. And if this is the end of his career, then it is what it is."
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The McGregor/Mayweather fight could break the record for pay-per-view buys. When Mayweather fought Manny Pacquiao in 2015, 4.6 million people turned in via PPV.
In November, McGregor, who has a record of 20-3, became the first UFC to simultaneously hold two division belts. He won the lightweight belt after already winning the featherweight belt.
He then took time away from fighting while his son Jack was born. But after his verbal sparring with Mayweather started gaining traction, he began entertaining the thought of a superfight.
McGregor does still have four fights left on his UFC contract and has previously said he plans to return to the octagon in 2017. In a recent press conference, he stated his passion for the unique skills fighters in the UFC possess.
"I love a true fight. Elbows, knees, shinbones, foot," McGregor said. "You ever bounce a shinbone off [an opponent]? You ever bounce an elbow off a temple? It's an unusual feeling, a nasty thing, but something I enjoy, something I love to do."
If McGregor does return to the UFC, he'll have several bouts waiting for him. He's due a trilogy match with lightweight Nate Diaz. He also could have a rematch with featherweight champion Max Holloway and has expressed an interest in fighting Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov, who's undefeated.
Perhaps McGregor loves fighting too much to give it up. But with the amount of money he'll make in his bout against Mayweather, he really won't ever have to fight again.
