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Conor McGregor is set to return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship for the first time in nearly two years for the main event of UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The former two-division champion is set to face off against current UFC lightweight titleholder Khabib Nurmagomedov to headline the pay-per-view.
It will mark McGregor’s first fight since he took a brief hiatus from mixed martial arts to fight Floyd Mayweather in the boxing ring.
During that fight, McGregor made approximately $100 million.
But how much will he make in his UFC return?
While an official amount has not been confirmed, the brash Irishman claimed that he be earning at least $50 million for his return bout. McGregor’s own brand of whiskey, Proper 12 Whiskey, is one of the official sponsors for the event along with pay-per-view points that he will be earning.
From The Sun:
“My team and myself have done a lot of great work – and with the UFC – we’ve done a lot of good work. It’s give or take [nine figures]. The Mayweather fight was nine figures but we’re almost there, it’s a good, solid eight figures – half way there.
We’re all very happy with where we’re at. It’s not what the Mayweather fight was but it’s a good half way there. And to fight this bum, this flat-footed fool that everyone thinks is all this and all that. He’s stuck in the mud and he’s going to freeze in there. We’re very happy with the deal.”
Conor McGregor last fought in the UFC on November 12, 2016, defeating Eddie Alvarez to claim the UFC lightweight championship. At the time of his big win, McGregor became the first fighter in UFC history to hold two titles in two different weight classes simultaneously; he was also the featherweight champion at the time. Since that fight, McGregor was stripped of both belts, welcomed his first child to the world, and dabbled in the boxing world for a superfight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Now, he is finally ready to step back into the cage to attempt to reclaim the title that he believes is still his.
Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, claimed the vacant UFC lightweight title at UFC 223 on April 7, 2018 in Brooklyn, New York. Nurmagomedov scored a unanimous decision victory win over Al Iaquinta in the main event. Khabib was initially scheduled to fight Tony Ferguson for the title, but the bout fell through in the final days leading up to the event and Iaquinta stepped up on short notice.
UFC 229 takes place Saturday, Oct. 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The UFC 229 main card will air on pay-per-view, with preliminary bouts on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Along with the main event between Nurmagomedov and McGregor, other bouts currently scheduled include Sergio Pettis vs. Jussier Formiga in a battle of top flyweight contenders, former Invicta FC champion Michelle Waterson vs. Felice Herrig, Ovince Saint Preux vs. Dominick Reyes, Ryan LaFlare vs. Tony Martin, and Lina Lansberg vs. Yana Kunitskaya.
