The biggest ongoing story in combat sports today surrounds a potential mega fight between UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor and semi-retired boxing great Floyd Mayweather Jr. Fans, pundits, and fighters alike have been wondering for months if this bout will actually happen, and if it does, which of the two stars will come out on top.
According to Stephen Thompson, who fights for the UFC welterweight title on March 4, this potential mega bout does not look good for McGregor. The upcoming title challenger explained this belief on the latest episode of Rapid Fire with BJPENN.COM’s Chris Taylor.
“Well you have a guy who trains mixed martial arts [Conor] – I am not really sure how long he has been training,” Thompson explained. “And he is going up against [Mayweather] in what literally is a different sport, and [Mayweather] has been boxing since he was three years old. I mean Mayweather has been doing this since he was three. It is really comparable to putting Mayweather out there in a mixed martial arts fight. I mean how do you think that is going to go?”
“I think Mayweather is going to dominate,” Thompson continue with a laugh. “You know you never want to take Conor McGregor lightly because he is a very game competitor and he has a tough chin and a mean left hand, but I think this is just all about the money for those guys man. That is what all of this is about. The crazy thing is you are going to have people tune in and watch it. They are going to be watching it. But yeah, I don’t see any way of Conor winning it. I mean anything can happen. But Floyd Mayweather in his own sport and Conor coming over for the first time… I just don’t see it happening [for Connor].”
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Whatever the outcome of this potential fight, however, Thompson believes there’s a good chance it actually happens. Given that he shares a manager with McGregor in Audie Attar, he’s got an ear to the ground on this potential mega fight, and apparently, things are sounding promising.
“Those guys are still making multi millions of dollars,” he said. “I think that [$100 million] is what Mayweather originally wanted. But I know they kind of negotiated down. But yea I think it is going to happen man – from the talk of it anyway. I mean, my manager is Conor McGregor’s manager, and it looks like the deal is almost done. It is getting closer and closer.”
Do you agree with Stephen Thompson’s assessment of a Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor fight? Sound off, PENN Nation!
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 2/22/2017.