This was never, ever going to happen.
The UFC’s contracts are typically watertight so that fighters cannot simply defect to other promotions while committed to the UFC.
But, according to reports, that didn’t prevent Russian promotion Fight Nights from attempting to sign up UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor for a fight this June.
Associate editor of BloodyElbow.com Karim Zidan has quoted Russian media who are reporting today that ‘The Notorious’ was offered $2 million to fight undefeated Russian 145 lber Rasul Mirzaev this summer.
Russian media is reporting that Conor McGregor was offered $2 million to fight Rasul Mirzaev at Fight Nights: Fedor vs. Maldonado in June.
— Karim Zidan 🕊️ (@ZidanSports) April 27, 2016
McGregor received a formal offer from the promotion. @from_safonov confirmed the news with Mirzaev.
— Karim Zidan 🕊️ (@ZidanSports) April 27, 2016
The bout was being targeted for the undercard of the upcoming heavyweight clash between the legendary Fedor Emelianenko and former UFC fighter Fabio Maldonado.
Emelianenko vs. Maldonado takes place at Fight Nights Global on June 17 and will be the second fight for ‘The Last Emperor’ since his return from retirement in December, when he finished Jaideep Singh in the first round at Rizin FF.
Even if he was a free agent, McGregor would likely require a lot more of a financial incentive than $2 million to sign on the dotted line but the fact that he has an exclusive contract with the UFC means this fight was never going to take place.
If the reports are true, it is still interesting to note that promotions are actively pursuing McGregor now that his dispute with the UFC has been played out so publicly.
