Conor McGregor has thrown the future of his UFC career into fresh doubt by declaring his current contract with the promotion is now "void" and must be completely renegotiated. The Irish superstar's explosive claim comes as the Ultimate Fighting Championship embarks on a new broadcast era with Paramount+.
A New Broadcast Deal Sparks Contract Chaos
This Saturday's UFC 324 event will be the first to stream live on Paramount+, marking the end of the organisation's long-standing partnership with ESPN and, crucially, its traditional pay-per-view (PPV) model. McGregor, 37, argues this seismic shift invalidates the terms of his existing deal. "They've got a new deal with Paramount... and my contract essentially is void right now, because there's no more PPV, whereas my contract was based on PPV sales," he stated during a live stream on Sunday.
The former dual-weight champion, who holds the record for the highest-generating PPV events in UFC history, insisted the change necessitates a fresh agreement. "The PPV system is done. I'm due a new contract," McGregor asserted, revealing that negotiations with the promotion are scheduled to begin in February. "I'm very interested to see how it goes."
The Long Road Back to the Octagon
McGregor has not competed since July 2021, when he suffered a broken leg in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier. Despite the lengthy layoff, his desire to return is fuelled by a specific goal: fighting at the UFC's planned event on the South Lawn of the White House in June. However, UFC president Dana White has been notably non-committal about McGregor's participation, recently stating, "We'll see if Conor's going to come back or not."
White has also definitively ruled out a bout against Michael Chandler, a matchup long discussed for McGregor's comeback. "No, that was a couple years ago," White said, referencing McGregor's withdrawal from a planned 2024 fight with Chandler due to a broken toe. The UFC boss added last week he would "not entertain" the idea of McGregor vs Chandler.
Undeterred, McGregor took to social media to proclaim his readiness, tweeting: "The body of work I have put in to date, along with its depth, is timeless. I really feel younger and fresher than ever... You will doubt me at your own peril." His return is further complicated by an ongoing suspension; McGregor is currently serving an 18-month anti-doping ban for multiple whereabouts failures, backdated to September 2023, which prevents him from competing before April.
Potential Opponents and Political Ambitions
With Chandler out of the picture, speculation has turned to who 'The Notorious' might face upon his return. One name generating buzz is fellow veteran Jorge Masvidal, who retired from MMA in 2023. Masvidal, 41, recently hinted at major fight news and did not dismiss the possibility of facing McGregor, particularly at the White House. "I wouldn't mind getting out there and f***ing doing my thing on the White House. That's the only fight I come back for," Masvidal told MMA Junkie, adding, "I'm [US president Donald] Trump's favourite fighter, that's all you've got to keep in mind."
The coming weeks will be critical as McGregor's planned contract negotiations in February collide with the UFC's new Paramount+ era and the ongoing puzzle of his comeback fight. Whether he steps into the Octagon at the White House or elsewhere, McGregor's latest move ensures the spotlight remains firmly on him.
