The "Billion Dollar Fight" is halfway to becoming a reality, according to Connor McGregor. The former mixed martial arts champion claims he has inked his side of the contract on a deal that would see him take on champion boxer Floyd Mayweather, who retired undefeated in 2015. "The first, and most important, part of this historic contract has now officially been signed off on," said the Irishman, via The Guardian. "Congratulations to all parties involved. We now await Al Haymon and his boxer's signature in the coming days."
It's hard to imagine Floyd Mayweather backing away from the fight now that McGregor says he's signed off on the deal, but the champ has been known to pick and choose his fights to protect his immaculate 49-0 record. Adding one more win would earn him a half-century of victories, and a chance to silence the UFC icon's claim that "The Money Man" isn't ready for "real fighting" and a "true, pure, unarmed combat." Rumors of an unprecedented clash between the two have been swirling ever since McGregor challenged Mayweather over a year ago.
UFC president Dana White made an appearance at game one of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals Wednesday night and spoke to the TNT crew about the fight. "The McGregor side is done," he declared. "I'm starting to work on the Mayweather side now."
"I'm not saying the fight will happen," he hedged, but added that as long as Mayweather agrees to the deal, "the fight's going to happen."
The ball is in Team Mayweather's court, but expect some more twists and turns in this one.
