The crossover freakshow is rolling into Las Vegas and everyone will be scrambling and rubbernecking to get a gawk.
Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather in a 12 round professional boxing match! We hate to sound like a broken record, but the reason why this diamond-encrusted panty night makes so much sense is because it makes so little sense.
All the talk is over (or rather, just beginning), and although it felt like an eternity for everyone who was following it, in boxing terms, the negotiations went pretty smoothly. On August 26, the T-Mobile Arena in the City of Sin will play host to the most sinful sporting spectacle of the s-s-s-century.
After confirming the worst kept secret in combat sports, UFC president Dana White, Mayweather Promotions’ Leonard Ellerbe and Showtime Sports’ Stephen Espinoza held a conference call with media members to talk about the lucrative circus sideshow.
It's quite something https://t.co/mlj0jIschW
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 15, 2017
The call was going swimmingly until a question from Brian Campbell of CBS Sports saw White’s mood change dramatically.
BC: “You made a pretty large 180 in terms of not supporting this fight originally, saying it would be an epic fail for Conor if he went down this road and then supporting it. How much of that has to do with the idea of this being financially beneficial to the UFC to pay off debt after the sale last year?”
White was quick to point out that the journalist took that quote out of context.
DW: “I didn’t say this would be an epic fail for Conor to go down this path. That was something else that I was talking about… what was the question about the debt?”
Just imagine this! https://t.co/l6jMqsVsaJ
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 15, 2017
Indeed, White was actually referring to McGregor’s infamous ‘Fuck the UFC’ Instagram post ahead of his Q&A in Manchester with his ‘epic fall’ comment.
BC: “How much of this has to do with the UFC receiving money to allow this fight to take place?”
You got the feeling he only asked the reporter to repeat his question so he could formulate a proper, cutting response. The opening line of his reply appeared to confirm this theory.
DW: “Listen, you’re going to ask me stupid questions, at least get your questions right.”
Strap yourselves in, folks.
“First of all, I didn’t say that this would be an epic fail if he went down that path. We were talking about something else because Conor and I were butting heads on something. That’s when I said it would be an epic fail if he went down that path,”
“Number two, as far as the debt goes, Conor could fight twice this year and we’re going to do fine anyway. This is a fight that Conor wanted, Mayweather wanted and the fans wanted. So we’re doing it. If you’re going to ask me a stupid question at least get it right.”
Ouch. Must have struck a nerve.
