Summary
- MMA fighter Conor McGregor says preliminary talks to fight WWE wrestler Logan Paul in India are off the table.
- The UFC, for which McGregor is still under contract, apparently "just aren't into it."
- McGregor has two fights left on his UFC contract but hasn't fought inside of the octagon since his loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021.
MMA star Conor McGregor says talks to fight YouTuber-turned-WWE wrestler Logan Paul have been scrapped because the UFC "just aren't into it." While McGregor hasn't fought inside the octagon since his second loss to fellow Lightweight Dustin Poirier in 2021, the controversial figure is still under contract with the UFC for another two fights. This means the promotion has the final say on what McGregor does outside the octagon in terms of combat sports.
While UFC and boxing champions like Alex Pereira and Oleksandr Usyk put on masterclass performances every time they step inside the octagon or ring, influencer boxing events with far less skilled fighters have taken over in recent years. YouTubers such as KSI and Jake Paul have committed themselves to the art of boxing, bringing even more eyes to the sport and generating huge numbers for every event they are involved in. With influencer boxing becoming so popular, genuine athletes such as McGregor and even legends like Mike Tyson are getting involved, likely so they can make some quick money.
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Conor McGregor Explains Why Logan Paul Fight Isn't Happening
Back in December, McGregor announced plans to fight now-WWE wrestler Logan Paul. The fight was supposedly going to be an exhibition that would take place in India, but contracts were yet to be signed which meant the fight wasn't official. Now, in a new interview with The Schmo, McGregor says the bout won't be happening as the UFC, who McGregor is still under contract, "just aren't into it." He goes on to tell The Schmo that there was an offer "on the table" and "in writing" and that it would have made perfect sense from a business sense as both McGregor and Paul are under the TKO banner, with the former being under the UFC and the latter WWE.
McGregor explained that a bout with Logan Paul would have also squeezed in perfectly while he awaits to return to the UFC. Rumors suggest McGregor is eyeing a return to the octagon by the end of 2025, so a boxing match with WWE's Logan Paul could have kept the athlete active in the meantime. McGregor was initially scheduled to return to the UFC on June 29, 2024, to fight Michael Chandler after appearing as a rival coach on Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter. The bout was canceled after McGregor broke his toe, and the fight was never rescheduled.
Shortly after McGregor's announcement that he would be fighting Logan Paul, a rumor began circulating that the MMA fighter would actually be taking on Jake Paul, not Logan. However, during the interview, The Schmo attempted to clarify with McGregor whether or not there were ever any discussions with Jake. In response, McGregor says it "was always Logan." He then explains that this was largely down to both atheles being under the TKO banner, which would make the negotiations easier. The star also said he's now "more inclined" for the influencer boxing matches as it's "astronomical money."