How Conor and Floyd Actually Came to Fight: Part 2

Part 2 of our series on how Conor and Floyd actually came to fight we take a look at what allowed the contracts to be signed.

After Conor McGregor’s loss to Nate Diaz, MMA fans around the world began calling for the Irishman to make the move to boxing. As we mentioned in part 1 of the series, Conor posted a picture on his Instagram of him and Floyd with the caption, “MMA vs. Boxing.”

This tweet sent shockwaves through the combat sports world. No one knew whether the fight was actually signed, but it didn’t take Floyd long to comment, telling the media “The rumors y’all been hearing (are) are the rumors I started.” From there, it almost seemed a foregone conclusion that these two would eventually fight.

Rematch with Diaz and win over Alvarez

There’s no doubt that Conor had Floyd on his mind during this time, but he had unfinished business to attend to in the UFC. The loss to Nate Diaz was the first time Conor showed a glaring weakness in the UFC, so he requested the fight be contested at the same weight of 170 pounds.

That decision appeared to pay off. It was a back and forth brawl for the majority of the contest, but in the end Conor was awarded the majority decision win. Less than 3 months later, McGregor returned to fight for the lightweight belt against champion Eddie Alvarez.

Conor proved most of the online sportsbooks in the UK correct by listing him as the betting favorite by knocking out Alvarez in the second round to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold belts in two weight classes simultaneously.

Offers are presented from both parties

It was around the time that Conor beat Alvarez that Floyd presented an offer to Conor for $15 million and a cut of the Pay Per View. Dana White quickly gave a counter offer for both men of $25 million each. These initial offers proved to be a key reason for how Conor and Floyd actually came to fight.

Initial McGregor – Mayweather offers

• $15 million to Conor + PPV points
• $25 million to both parties
• $100 million to Floyd – $75 million to Conor (allegedly)

After the NSAC stated they would be willing to license Conor if the fight were to come about, many sports betting sites began offering odds. BetVictor Sportsbook initially listed McGregor’s odds to beat Floyd extremely low at 25/1.

Floyd would again take to his Instagram account to tell the media that “no deal has been made,” though other reports were stated the parties were closer than ever to reaching an agreement.

Dana White meets with Mayweather’s team

In May of 2017, Dana White and Conor McGregor had come to an agreement on the pay, and White agree to meet with team Mayweather to finalize the deal on their side. In what was expected to take months, Dana and Floyd made UK gambling news by quickly making a deal, and the fight was scheduled for August 26th in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It was White’s involvement that proved to be how Conor and Floyd actually came to fight. He told the media that negotiations went extremely smooth, and would be tasked with helping to promote the fight in its lead up.

Both Conor and Floyd agreed to sign NDA’s regarding their purses, so it’s unclear how much both will actually receive when the fights over. According to most reports however, Mayweather will be paid $100 million and Conor $75 million, without including PPV points and sponsorship deals.

The McGregor vs. Mayweather betting odds shift dramatically

As the fight has drawn closer, sites like BetVictor Sportsbook have drastically changed the odds for McGrgeor and Mayweather. This may have been due in part to the pair’s famous press conferences, and the idea that Conor is now in Floyd’s head.

At the moment, Conor’s odds to beat Floyd are set at 4/1. Floyd’s odds to beat Conor are now set at 1/6. With BetVictor, you can go even further with your boxing bets by wagering on how the fight ends, and in what round.

The story of how Conor and Floyd actually came to fight is one of the most interesting in sports today, and will be talked about for years to come. Make sure to head to BetVictor Sportsbook to place your bets on who wins, and tell us what you think in the comment section below!