Conor McGregor/Floyd Mayweather Jr

[Srebmun]

I'm an Irishman married to a black woman, McGregor is a mug if he thinks there's any comparison between the plight and continued prejudice of the Irish compared to black people.

[jamesmcdonnell]

He'll probably break lots of records in earnings for MMA soon.

if an mma fighter wins a happy meal it's a record. you got these fighters in that sport
built up as the greatest ever after as little as 5 fights total sometimes, including amateur.
the real veterans fight for years as semi-pros working odd jobs while fighting for peanuts
on these low level events, then if they make it to the pinnacle of the sport, the most popular
dude in the ufc, they maybe can become millionaires for a year or two, then the ufc is building
someone else up as the greatest ever. mma fighters are disposable. like dixie cups.
one after another each one blabbling about mayweather is sad. they are sad people.
i doubt mayweather would even know who any of those people are if he wasn't asked.
mayweather will give you an opinion about something even if he doesn't have one.
conor mcgregor is no "household name".

Be as disparaging as you wish about MMA, as I said it's a sport in transition, whilst people snicker up their sleeves at it, it's doing a great job of promoting itself. Sure, the fighters aren't getting paid as much, that's as much to do with the current business model where Zuffa/UFC are the ones making the lions share and paying their fighters relatively low amounts of money. I'm sure in time that will change, especially if a rival promotion comes along and gets its act together. Also the fighters themselves are going to start getting organised, they aren't going to be exploited forever. The contracts will change, I wouldn't be surprised to see McGregor become one of the first to change the MO.

Even if MMA fighters become a 'millionaire for a year or two' so what - ? That's not exactly bad going is it, so what if they aren't earning what Mayweather is earning?

Mayweather is sad, he's an ignoramus, no matter how wealthy he is, he's an arse, and his fights have been largely duds for years, and he's not good for the sport of boxing - he delivers turgid fights, and takes as much money as possible out of the sport, meanwhile, you've got lots of fighters earning a pittance on his undercards. I enjoy mayweathers skills, and appreciate them, but I'm not, and have never been a fan, as I consider him a bore, both inside and outside of the ring.

In 20 years time, MMA is going to be huge, we've really only got to the 2nd generation of fighters, but there are countless kids around the world training in MMA gyms, kids who are going to be future stars.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I'm an Irishman married to a black woman, McGregor is a mug if he thinks there's any comparison between the plight and continued prejudice of the Irish compared to black people.

Yes, that is clearly cobblers.

[lefty]

I'm an Irishman married to a black woman, McGregor is a mug if he thinks there's any comparison between the plight and continued prejudice of the Irish compared to black people.

Saw a few youtube comments the other night from Irishmen arguing with some black guy saying they had been just as persecuted and to look up what Oliver Cromwell had done, etc, etc.

[caldo2025]

[/i][/b]McGregor said in an Instagram post. "I am an Irishman. My people have been oppressed our entire existence. And still very much are. I understand the feeling of prejudice. It is a feeling that is deep in my blood. In my family's long history of warfare there was a time where just having the name 'McGregor' was punishable by death.

oh, fvck off, give it a fvckin rest. what a pudendum.

what's that again?

[jamesmcdonnell]

I'm an Irishman married to a black woman, McGregor is a mug if he thinks there's any comparison between the plight and continued prejudice of the Irish compared to black people.

Saw a few youtube comments the other night from Irishmen arguing with some black guy saying they had been just as persecuted and to look up what Oliver Cromwell had done, etc, etc.

Yeah, all true, however, there's nobody currently oppressing or discriminating against the Irish, though in London in the 1960's1970's Irish people were kind of persona non grata still - my own mother had a lot of trouble getting digs to live in because most landlords wouldn't rent to the Irish. Times have changed though now, and I can't really think of anyone giving the Irish gip.

[Srebmun]

Except the Irish to themselves. Especially Dubliners towards the rest of us Country folk.

[Stevieb8006]

Floyds problem is that for all his undoubted skills and money, he's got zero charisma. He's so boring and classless. The guy can only repeat the same soundbites endlessly and brag about what he owns. The most interesting thing about him is that he's probably a closet homosexual. Anyone who has to pay large groups of women to hang around him...kind of says it all. Undeniable boxing ability aside, his success has always puzzled me. I just don't get why the American public lap him up, his fights aren't exactly barnstormers. Saying that, what hes achieved is a hell of an achievement.

I don't watch ufc and prob never will, but that mcgregor from the few clips I've seen, has more charisma in his little finger than Floyd has in his entire body.

[lillywhite14]

Both are examples of manufactured "personalities"

Floyd is a wet fish and although McGregor has more about him as a person, he still resorts to posing with watches, cars, sporting a huge beard and lots of tats to make him seem more "interesting" and adorable to the shallow, materialistic masses.

Neither are genuine 'characters' from what I have seen.

Good luck to them both though. I tip my hat to what they have achieved, definitely.

I imagine they both get together and laugh at all the money parting suckers who lap up these silly little "arguments" too! Means more interest in them which means more dollars in their pocket!

[uptconnect]

I like Connor and his brashness, and I'm glad he's around.
The black hat/white hat storyline in combat sports is a necessity, as it always generates the highest of interest.
But as much as he's the UFCs dream, he's also going to be their nightmare, because he's already making it known that he's not a company man when it comes to getting paid what he's worth. (Not even referring to the rumors recently- just in general, you can tell that Connor will make sure he gets his) And once the UFC has to actually start paying fighters what they're actually worth, their profit margin is going to suffer mightily, so there's a fight coming. Connor and UFC will be at odds as fast as you can blink, if Connor keeps winning and gaining popularity.
The UFC muscles it's entire roster(And the press even) in many ways, and they punish any fighters with the audacity to look out for themselves first by passing on a short notice fight or such, or to even so much as talk about the company other than to kiss its ass.
Connor might be the first guy to say "pay me what I'm worth, look at what I bring", and they listen.
And once that happens, other fighters of relatively high stature will also benefit. The UFC business model f*cks 90% of it's roster financially, but eventually, that will change, because it has to, as the fighters continue to become more and more valuable, and are aware of it.

I've long been bitter at the UFCs pay structure, knowing what they make vs what the fighters make, but it cant last, and I can see it changing soon.

[watsupdoc87]

Except the Irish to themselves. Especially Dubliners towards the rest of us Country folk.

here you dont like mcgregor cos your a jealous fuking coulchie, us dubs dont give a bollox about yous miserable chip on the shoulder "country folk"

[SaadOffTheDeck]

The pay structure is what makes it so much better than boxing.

[Impractical Poster]

The pay structure is what makes it so much better than boxing.

x2

[jamesmcdonnell]

Both are examples of manufactured "personalities"

Floyd is a wet fish and although McGregor has more about him as a person, he still resorts to posing with watches, cars, sporting a huge beard and lots of tats to make him seem more "interesting" and adorable to the shallow, materialistic masses.

Neither are genuine 'characters' from what I have seen.

Good luck to them both though. I tip my hat to what they have achieved, definitely.

I imagine they both get together and laugh at all the money parting suckers who lap up these silly little "arguments" too! Means more interest in them which means more dollars in their pocket!

I think McGregor is a more genuine personality , in that the way he acts is closer to what he is, I think he's probably a lot more intelligent than Mayweather too, certainly wittier, his remarks seem more off the cuff, and are funnier.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Except the Irish to themselves. Especially Dubliners towards the rest of us Country folk.

here you dont like mcgregor cos your a jealous fuking coulchie, us dubs dont give a bollox about yous miserable chip on the shoulder "country folk"

Hahaha, my mum used to use culchie, and her other favourite was 'bog-trotter.'

[jamesmcdonnell]

The pay structure is what makes it so much better than boxing.

x2

I was going to go into this in my previous statement. I'd certainly argue boxing would be better off if the top boys were paid less. The amount they are paid for providing very little entertainment is ludicrous. They siphon the money away from the rest of the sport. People get bamboozled into paying out for an event - which then turns out to be a dud, or is a terrible mismatch on PPV, until the next one. Meanwhile lower down the pecking order, there's very good fighters being paid peanuts.

I also think that fighters demands for heinous paydays is what is depriving us of far more competitive matchups at top level, look at Mayweather v Pacquaio, blanantly neither man wanted the fight until near the end of their career, I don't think anyone can lay the blame at just one of them.

[Ricky_]

He'll probably break lots of records in earnings for MMA soon.

if an mma fighter wins a happy meal it's a record. you got these fighters in that sport
built up as the greatest ever after as little as 5 fights total sometimes, including amateur.
the real veterans fight for years as semi-pros working odd jobs while fighting for peanuts
on these low level events, then if they make it to the pinnacle of the sport, the most popular
dude in the ufc, they maybe can become millionaires for a year or two, then the ufc is building
someone else up as the greatest ever. mma fighters are disposable. like dixie cups.
one after another each one blabbling about mayweather is sad. they are sad people.
i doubt mayweather would even know who any of those people are if he wasn't asked.
mayweather will give you an opinion about something even if he doesn't have one.
conor mcgregor is no "household name".

MMA is about maxed out in terms of fans and following.

The sport simply has no class at all. The idea of 2 uneducated tattoe'd-up jailbirds rolling about a bloodstained canvas inside a cage wearing only hotpants (while meathead idiots like Joe Rogan scream into the mic) attracting a mainstream audience is laughable.

The fact is they attract a very specific, hardcore demographic.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

The pay structure is what makes it so much better than boxing.

x2

I was going to go into this in my previous statement. I'd certainly argue boxing would be better off if the top boys were paid less. The amount they are paid for providing very little entertainment is ludicrous. They siphon the money away from the rest of the sport. People get bamboozled into paying out for an event - which then turns out to be a dud, or is a terrible mismatch on PPV, until the next one. Meanwhile lower down the pecking order, there's very good fighters being paid peanuts.

I also think that fighters demands for heinous paydays is what is depriving us of far more competitive matchups at top level, look at Mayweather v Pacquaio, blanantly neither man wanted the fight until near the end of their career, I don't think anyone can lay the blame at just one of them.

this is all unquestionably true.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

He'll probably break lots of records in earnings for MMA soon.

if an mma fighter wins a happy meal it's a record. you got these fighters in that sport
built up as the greatest ever after as little as 5 fights total sometimes, including amateur.
the real veterans fight for years as semi-pros working odd jobs while fighting for peanuts
on these low level events, then if they make it to the pinnacle of the sport, the most popular
dude in the ufc, they maybe can become millionaires for a year or two, then the ufc is building
someone else up as the greatest ever. mma fighters are disposable. like dixie cups.
one after another each one blabbling about mayweather is sad. they are sad people.
i doubt mayweather would even know who any of those people are if he wasn't asked.
mayweather will give you an opinion about something even if he doesn't have one.
conor mcgregor is no "household name".

MMA is about maxed out in terms of fans and following.

The sport simply has no class at all. The idea of 2 uneducated tattoe'd-up jailbirds rolling about a bloodstained canvas inside a cage wearing only hotpants (while meathead idiots like Joe Rogan scream into the mic) attracting a mainstream audience is laughable.

The fact is they attract a very specific, hardcore demographic.

that hardcore demographic sells out any arena they go to. The promotion is based on fanbase, that grows everyday. As usual, you don't have a clue.

[Impractical Poster]

The pay structure is what makes it so much better than boxing.

x2

I was going to go into this in my previous statement. I'd certainly argue boxing would be better off if the top boys were paid less. The amount they are paid for providing very little entertainment is ludicrous. They siphon the money away from the rest of the sport. People get bamboozled into paying out for an event - which then turns out to be a dud, or is a terrible mismatch on PPV, until the next one. Meanwhile lower down the pecking order, there's very good fighters being paid peanuts.

I also think that fighters demands for heinous paydays is what is depriving us of far more competitive matchups at top level, look at Mayweather v Pacquaio, blanantly neither man wanted the fight until near the end of their career, I don't think anyone can lay the blame at just one of them.

Not just that...

The median payout, in the UFC at least, is better than that of boxing. There are also fighter bonuses; (fight of the night, KO of the night, sub of the night), and Reebok sponsor payouts (which is bad or good depending on which fighters you ask). And according to L Fertitta, the top fighters also receive undisclosed bonuses.

[Undefeated49-0]

I think you nailed it at the end - entertainment. People are fine with McGregor because he is backing up everything he says in a sport where you cannot possibly hide. Boxing is very different to that, and people grew tired of Mayweather delivering a boring outcome.

Yes you can definitely blame Floyd for all the other fighters he's faced for being so lame in their gameplan and not being good enough to get him to do anything different.

That is the ultimate compliment you gave him in regards to his all conquering abilities.

[jamesmcdonnell]

x2

I was going to go into this in my previous statement. I'd certainly argue boxing would be better off if the top boys were paid less. The amount they are paid for providing very little entertainment is ludicrous. They siphon the money away from the rest of the sport. People get bamboozled into paying out for an event - which then turns out to be a dud, or is a terrible mismatch on PPV, until the next one. Meanwhile lower down the pecking order, there's very good fighters being paid peanuts.

I also think that fighters demands for heinous paydays is what is depriving us of far more competitive matchups at top level, look at Mayweather v Pacquaio, blanantly neither man wanted the fight until near the end of their career, I don't think anyone can lay the blame at just one of them.

Not just that...

The median payout, in the UFC at least, is better than that of boxing. There are also fighter bonuses; (fight of the night, KO of the night, sub of the night), and Reebok sponsor payouts (which is bad or good depending on which fighters you ask). And according to L Fertitta, the top fighters also receive undisclosed bonuses.

I suspected the distribution was more even myself, but without any figures to back it up, didn't wish to comment- are there any figures to back up what you say, I have long suspected that your average UFC fighter gets paid way more than you average TV fighter.

Opponents are very rarely hugely mistmatched either

[jamesmcdonnell]

if an mma fighter wins a happy meal it's a record. you got these fighters in that sport
built up as the greatest ever after as little as 5 fights total sometimes, including amateur.
the real veterans fight for years as semi-pros working odd jobs while fighting for peanuts
on these low level events, then if they make it to the pinnacle of the sport, the most popular
dude in the ufc, they maybe can become millionaires for a year or two, then the ufc is building
someone else up as the greatest ever. mma fighters are disposable. like dixie cups.
one after another each one blabbling about mayweather is sad. they are sad people.
i doubt mayweather would even know who any of those people are if he wasn't asked.
mayweather will give you an opinion about something even if he doesn't have one.
conor mcgregor is no "household name".

MMA is about maxed out in terms of fans and following.

The sport simply has no class at all. The idea of 2 uneducated tattoe'd-up jailbirds rolling about a bloodstained canvas inside a cage wearing only hotpants (while meathead idiots like Joe Rogan scream into the mic) attracting a mainstream audience is laughable.

The fact is they attract a very specific, hardcore demographic.

that hardcore demographic sells out any arena they go to. The promotion is based on fanbase, that grows everyday. As usual, you don't have a clue.

I remember going to a cage rage (not even UFC) fight at the 02 years ago, and it was absolutely rammed, a huge, well behaved crowd, tight security, people coming around selling food, incredible setup, made most UK based boxing matches look postitively stone age.

UFC know their demographic, know how to cater to it, and are incredibly professional. Look how many copies of the UFC game they've sold now.

People who think UFC aren't on the up, are delusional.

[uptconnect]

The pay structure is what makes it so much better than boxing.

I respectfully disagree.
The fighter who is literally giving up his health for my entertainment will always deserve the lion's share, in my opinion.
Far too many of the name-fighter and headliner payouts are paltry sums, even including the stupid bonuses.
Top level fighters are forced to take far too short notice fights, for short money, all the time.
That's a major discredit to any serious combat sports athlete. The reebok deal? That was a major f*ck to every UFC fighter.
Sponsors have to pay the UFC more money to sponsor a fighter than what they would pay the fighter after the strongarm.

I like the UFC and watch just about all of the cards, but I see the fight coming where the athletes demand what they deserve out of what they generate for the company.
As it should be.

[jamesmcdonnell]

He'll probably break lots of records in earnings for MMA soon.

if an mma fighter wins a happy meal it's a record. you got these fighters in that sport
built up as the greatest ever after as little as 5 fights total sometimes, including amateur.
the real veterans fight for years as semi-pros working odd jobs while fighting for peanuts
on these low level events, then if they make it to the pinnacle of the sport, the most popular
dude in the ufc, they maybe can become millionaires for a year or two, then the ufc is building
someone else up as the greatest ever. mma fighters are disposable. like dixie cups.
one after another each one blabbling about mayweather is sad. they are sad people.
i doubt mayweather would even know who any of those people are if he wasn't asked.
mayweather will give you an opinion about something even if he doesn't have one.
conor mcgregor is no "household name".

MMA is about maxed out in terms of fans and following.

The sport simply has no class at all. The idea of 2 uneducated tattoe'd-up jailbirds rolling about a bloodstained canvas inside a cage wearing only hotpants (while meathead idiots like Joe Rogan scream into the mic) attracting a mainstream audience is laughable.

The fact is they attract a very specific, hardcore demographic.

Sorry, who are these jailbirds you refer to? You're aware Bernard Hopkins is a former jailbird right, and Mike Tyson, and Sonny Liston, etc etc etc.?

As for education, I suppose boxing is thronging with amateur astrophysicists.

I'd say the boxing attire of many a former star has been dubious sartorially, plenty have been borderline homoerotic. Hector Camacho anyone?

I will admit though that Rogan needs to STFU, or at least dial it down, it drives me mad, he's gotten worse as time goes on.

With regards to Tattoos, it reflects the demographic that MMA appeals to, I would say though that there are two rules.

Generally - with noatable exceptions in boxing, the relationship between skills and tattoos is inversely proportional.
In MMA it seems to be directly proportional