The Bottom Line: What is Conor McGregor Fighting For?

UFC 202 by all rights should be one of the most anticipated events in mixed martial arts history. Its main event is a rematch from UFC 196, which was one of the two highest grossing MMA cards ever. It’s also a natural story, with Conor McGregor seeking to avenge the first loss of his Ultimate Fighting Championship career. Yet, while there’s no question the show will do quite well, much of the buzz heading into UFC 202 on Saturday in Las Vegas is negative. McGregor, not long ago the miracle man and golden child, has become engulfed by negative publicity. There was the loss to Diaz, who took the fight on short notice. That was followed by the behind-the-scenes power struggle with the UFC that led to McGregor being pulled from UFC 202. The UFC’s shortsighted infatuation with callouts has led to half the fighters from 145 to 170 pounds publicly downplaying McGregor’s skills in an effort to get a fight with him. Ticket sales for UFC 202 have been a disappointment, leading to price discounts. Make no mistake: UFC 202 will still end up being a success. There remains plenty of interest in McGregor and a natural story for his fight with Diaz. The hype for UFC shows tends to build in the half week leading up to the fight. However, there are real underlying issues at work. McGregor has lost more momentum than one might expect after just one UFC loss. At the heart of it is simple human psychology. Fans need to have a clearer understanding as to what McGregor is attempting to accomplish in his career and how each individual fight fits into those ultimate goals. McGregor talks plenty about how he fights for money. There’s of course nothing wrong with that, but that isn’t a goal that’s going to terribly interest fans of a sport. Fans don’t get to spend that money; whether McGregor makes $20 million or $200 million over the course …

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