Conor McGregor has remained quiet regarding the UFC’s decision to strip him of his featherweight title, leaving many of us wondering whether the act would sour the already troubled relationship between the promotion and their biggest star. After becoming the first fighter to hold two titles simultaneously, McGregor said he wouldn’t fight again until the new owners offered him ‘a real slice’ of the UFC. Word is UFC ownership haven’t even met with him … instead, they stripped his title for the most cynical of reasons: so they could have an interim featherweight belt on the line for their failing UFC 206 card.
So now that the context is set, what do you make of this: Conor McGregor has just been issued a boxing license in California (with more licenses in other states possibly coming). Is this the first concrete step in the long-rumored superfight between McGregor and Floyd Mayweather?
Would McGregor be allowed by the UFC to fight Mayweather? Surprisingly, it may not be up to them. The Muhammad Ali Reform Boxing Act has provisions that could prevent the UFC from stopping him, even if their contract specifically bars boxing. And several states have other specific laws designed to stop promoters from locking up boxers in restrictive deals. In New York, a boxer’s contract can’t last longer than three years. So there’s options for McGregor if he decides he’s sick of the UFC and wants to work for McGregor Incorporated instead.
We’re now beyond the point where this fight is just idle daydreaming. Word is the McGregor and Mayweather camps have been negotiating seriously for a year now. Sources in McGregor’s camp saying talks are”optimistic” and that McGregor is serious about making the big money fight happen. Now he’s just responded to the UFC taking one of his belts with a boxing license. The message seems clear to us: he has better things to do with his time if the UFC isn’t interested in working with him.