Floyd Mayweather remains adamant that his historic crossover boxing match with UFC star Conor McGregor left an indelible mark not only on the sport of combat sports entertainment, but on McGregor’s career and persona as a whole. Nearly a decade has passed since Mayweather stepped into the ring for the final professional bout of his legendary career, taking on McGregor—a two-division UFC champion and arguably the most prominent star in the promotion’s history—in a blockbuster spectacle that captured the attention of the global sports world.
The event itself was preceded by an intense, multi-city promotional world tour that generated massive media coverage, record-breaking pay-per-view numbers at the box office, and historic financial windfalls for both athletes involved. When the two finally squared off inside the squared circle, Mayweather relied on his masterful technical precision and conditioning to defeat McGregor via a 10th-round technical knockout. The victory successfully closed out Mayweather’s professional career with a pristine, unblemished 50-0 record, though McGregor had moments of success, managing to secure a few of the early rounds before ultimately fading under Mayweather’s relentless late-fight pressure.
Mayweather recently made an appearance on the PBD Podcast, where he touched upon a wide array of topics concerning his storied career, his financial legacy, and where McGregor’s promotional and self-marketing skills rank alongside the all-time greats of combat sports. Reflecting on McGregor’s rise to global superstardom, Mayweather didn’t hesitate to draw a direct line between the Irishman’s exposure to Mayweather’s own brand of promotion and his subsequent level of fame.
"You mean the guy that took my whole swag and took it over there to the UFC?" Mayweather remarked during the podcast interview. "You tell me. As soon as Conor McGregor faced Floyd Mayweather, he was big as life. I mean, his career wasn’t like that before. What was his biggest payday? What was his biggest fight? When he got me, what kind of money did he make? I think I made about 300. I don’t know like to count another man’s pocket, but he ate good. I’m pretty sure he ate good."
While the officially disclosed paydays from the Nevada State Athletic Commission saw Mayweather earn a guaranteed purse of $100 million and McGregor take home $30 million—representing an astronomical leap from McGregor’s highest previous disclosed UFC check, which was $3 million for his 2016 rematch against Nate Diaz—the final financial tally for both fighters was undoubtedly much higher once all television revenues, gate receipts, and sponsorship percentages were accounted for. Mayweather has consistently maintained that his total take for the blockbuster event hovered around $300 million.
Throughout the intense verbal back-and-forth that characterized the promotion of their 2017 bout, McGregor frequently seized the microphone, delivering sharp trash talk and attempting to rattle the undefeated boxing icon. Mayweather, however, claims he was more than happy to let McGregor do the talking, noting that verbal sparring ultimately has zero bearing on what happens once the opening bell sounds. Furthermore, the former multi-division champion suggested that the door remains open for a potential rematch down the line, hinting that he would be entirely willing to step into the ring with McGregor once again.
"What I was saying is talking doesn’t win fights," Mayweather explained. "He can do all that he wants, I know that when you get in there with Floyd Mayweather, I’m the truth. When you get in there, it’s go time. So this whole arena could be filled with Conor McGregor fans, but they can’t fight for you. The fans can’t fight for you. Actually, I think me and Conor McGregor may lock up again. Yeah, absolutely. He didn’t break his hand, he broke his foot, right? OK, we’re going from the shoulders."
The prospect of a second meeting comes at a time when McGregor’s MMA career has faced significant turbulence and inactivity. The 38-year-old Irishman is currently sidelined following a knee injury suffered during his comeback fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329 this past July. That much-anticipated return marked McGregor’s first trip to the Octagon since 2021, but it ended in swift and disappointing fashion. The bout lasted a mere 69 seconds before a visibly compromised McGregor was rescued by referee Mike Beltran, bringing a sudden halt to his comeback aspirations. Despite the setback, McGregor has repeatedly stated his intention to fulfill the final fight of his current UFC contract in 2027, after which he would officially become an unrestricted free agent.
This timeline leaves open the theoretical possibility of Mayweather versus McGregor 2, though fans should not expect Mayweather to proactively reach out or initiate discussions until the timing is right for a formal business venture. When asked about his current personal relationship with McGregor and whether they remain on friendly terms, Mayweather maintained a strictly professional and detached perspective.
"I’m not really upset with anyone," Mayweather said. "I don’t live with Conor McGregor, he’s not my friend. I don’t have to see him. It’s just when it’s time for us to do business and lock up, let’s do it. If we got to sit down to talk for business sake, if we have to put the fight together by sitting down having dinner, then we’ll do it. But all in all, I could care less, I don’t need to be friends with anyone."
