One of the most unexpected matchups in boxing history saw Floyd Mayweather face Conor McGregor in his professional boxing debut, ultimately concluding in a highly anticipated but predictable fashion. Money Mayweather showcased his dominance and stopped McGregor via TKO in the 10th round at T-Mobile Arena, which attracted 14,623 fans—far below its full capacity. This victory not only extended Mayweather’s record to an unprecedented 50-0, with 27 knockouts, but also marked his retirement announcement. “This was my last fight tonight. For sure,” he stated post-fight.
This triumph not only helped Mayweather surpass Rocky Marciano’s iconic 49-0 record but also led to a massive $280 million payday. Meanwhile, Conor McGregor, who was the UFC lightweight champion at that time, still pocketed $130 million, despite having little chance against one of boxing’s finest. Even with considerable hype and support for the underdog, Mayweather’s expertise proved decisive after a tactically measured start. Fast forward eight years, and both Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen are reassessing the fight, suggesting that while it enriched The Notorious, it significantly impacted his UFC career.
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What if Conor McGregor had taken Floyd Mayweather to the final bell?
In a recent episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy on ESPN MMA, Daniel Cormier posed a question to Chael Sonnen about whether the $130 million Conor McGregor earned from his boxing bout against Mayweather signaled the moment the UFC “officially lost” its biggest star. Sonnen concurred, asserting that the money changed everything, suggesting, “Yes, I believe that we could,” and noted that the spectacle was overhyped compared to its reality.
Sonnen also raised doubts about the authenticity of reported payouts, implying that financial figures were exaggerated. He remarked, “Floyd got paid 280 and Conor got paid 140. And they made sure that we all knew that… but they never told us who signed the front of that cheque.” While both fighters walked away with significant earnings, he suggested the actual financial details might not have been as transparent as advertised. Reflecting on the fight, Sonnen questioned how different outcomes might have been if McGregor had made it to a decision, describing it as a classic “what could have been” scenario.
Daniel Cormier emphasized how the match negatively affected McGregor’s career trajectory. He stated that while the boxing match elevated McGregor’s global status, it detracted from his MMA competitiveness. Cormier explained that the boxing gloves permitted The Irishman to endure more punishment from one of the greatest boxers of all time. Although McGregor secured a victory over Cowboy Cerrone at UFC 246 in January 2020, Cormier asserted, “that was it after he fought Floyd.”
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Nonetheless, Conor McGregor is preparing to make waves in the UFC again. The ex-two-division champion has re-entered the testing pool, dispelling criticisms, and is undergoing intensive training. With a Robert De Niro-inspired “Taxi Driver” mohawk, he is on the White House South Lawn during America’s 250th anniversary, sending a clear signal of his serious intent to fulfill his UFC commitments. However, the shadow of the McGregor vs. Mayweather encounter still looms, as it faces criticisms for allegedly damaging boxing’s integrity.
Boxing skills alone don’t guarantee victory
Recently, Chael Sonnen shared his candid perspective in an episode of his Beyond the Fight podcast titled “Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis Su– a–.” He compared this upcoming match to the notorious Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor bout, pointing out how both fights featured weight discrepancies, albeit minor. Sonnen explained, “I mean, I watched them weigh in. It was like 8 lbs. It was very small, but you understood that Conor was pulling to those 8 lbs and he might put on another 10, and it could be an 18 lbs difference.”
Sonnen identified a major disappointment stemming from that match, stating, “Eventually Conor and Floyd fought and everybody goes, ‘Oh crap, this thing, the sport that we truly believed in, turned out to not be as real as we hoped.’” He argued that the fight revealed a harsh truth: superior boxing skills do not always ensure victory. He elaborated, “In fact, if you confirm the rules and just make it boxing rules, being a better boxer than these guys does not even mean you can beat the guy up under those rules.”
According to Sonnen, that night was a “colossally disappointing moment” for boxing. He reasoned that it took Mayweather a full 30 minutes to defeat someone untrained in the sport, suggesting that the match undermined boxing’s credibility and raised questions about its authenticity. What do you think about the perspectives shared by Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen regarding the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor fight?
