{"id":219014,"date":"2017-01-23T08:51:09","date_gmt":"2017-01-23T16:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/?p=219014"},"modified":"2017-01-23T08:51:46","modified_gmt":"2017-01-23T16:51:46","slug":"jon-anik-mayweather-mcgregor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/mma-news\/conor-mcgregor\/jon-anik-mayweather-mcgregor\/","title":{"rendered":"Jon Anik: Floyd Mayweather needs McGregor and the UFC more than they need him"},"content":{"rendered":"

The biggest ongoing storyline in combat sports today surrounds a potential mega fight between retired boxing great Floyd Mayweather and MMA superstar Conor McGregor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Until recently, this history-making\u00a0showdown has resided firmly in the realm of the hypothetical. When UFC President Dana White made what he called “a real offer” of $25 million to Mayweather<\/a>, however, that changed. The wheels were decidedly in motion.<\/p>\n

Mayweather, of course, scoffed at White’s offer, explaining that he hasn’t been paid such a paltry sum in ages<\/a>. According to UFC commentator Jon Anik, however, Mayweather might be unwise to balk at this offer.<\/p>\n

On a recent episode of Bruce Buffer’s It’s Time<\/em><\/a> podcast, Anik explained his belief that Mayweather needs McGregor and the UFC more than they need him. His words:<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly, Conor could realize the biggest payday of his career, but he can fight Nate Diaz<\/a> and all these other guys<\/a>, and make 25, 30, if not 40 million. Floyd needs Conor and the UFC a lot more than they need him right now.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Conor<\/p>\n

While this is where Anik stands on the issue, however, he went on to elaborate that he has a hard time believing this fight will ever come to fruition.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to happen, but I went from somebody who was totally off board, to being pretty firmly on board,\u201d Anik said. \u201cI think it goes north of 3 million [pay-per-view buys]. How far north? I don\u2019t know. I would argue, even if marketed poorly, it\u2019s doing 2.5 million. And you know it\u2019s not going to be marketed poorly.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Buffer then weighed in the subject, saying that if this prospective pay-per-view did sell in this range, Mayweather would make far more than the $25 million he was offered by White.<\/p>\n

Buffer’s words:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I hear everyone balk at this offer, and I read social media \u2014 it\u2019s 25 million guaranteed, not counting the revenue from pay-per-view. The pay-per-view alone is going to double or triple that 25 million, and nobody has any complaints.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Do you think a Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor fight will ever happen? Sound off, PENN Nation!<\/p>\n

This article first appeared on\u00a0<\/i>BJPenn.com<\/i><\/span><\/a>\u00a0on 1\/23\/2017.<\/i><\/p>\n