UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor thinks that UFC 200 “bombed” without him fighting on the pay per view.
McGregor has been anything but quiet lately. In the lead up to UFC 202, it seems to be “what has McGregor said today?” In an interview with GQ, the Irish fighter talked about the UFC 200 situation and him trying to get back on the card, after he was taken off by by UCF President Dana White.
“People spend a lot of money to come see me fight from my hometown, and they had already purchased tickets, so I wanted to get back on that card,” McGregor said. “They weren't having it. They didn't put me in the card — that's okay — and the card bombed. I was ringside. The fights weren't great, but now here we are."
According to MMA Payout, UFC 200 had a buy rate of 1.1-1.2 million, making the event one of the highest grossing UFC pay per views ever. Even with the success of the July 9th event, McGregor stands by his decisions to not return to the United States in time for the UFC press junket, which led to his infamous retirement tweet.
"If you don't put your foot down," he says, "it can drag you left and right. Now my opponent is getting dragged left and right, so I'm happy about that. I've done enough. I'm chilling here. Everything's on my clock now."
The rematch against Nate Diaz, originally scheduled for UFC 200, will take place at UFC 202 in the main event. The first fight between McGregor and Diaz took place March 5th at UFC 196.
