UFC 200 is going to be the biggest fight night of the year but, we suspect, the PPV figures will be trumped by Conor McGregor’s eventual return.
McGregor was taken off the main card, two weeks back, for refusing to attend a slew of press commitments in Las Vegas, California and New York. His name was mentioned 53 times at the first UFC 200 press conference and still it lingers.
UFC Light Heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier has stepped into the main event slot and fights Jon Jones at the July 9 event.
Conor McGregor's gamble backfires as new #UFC200 main event announced https://t.co/avMoiEvy3U
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) April 27, 2016
In a wide-ranging interview with FOX Sport Live, Cormier showed sympathy with McGregor’s benching but, ultimately, side with the company. He said:
“Listen, as a guy who is headlining and will be taking some of the pay-per-view points, a big part of me is hoping that Conor IS there but he’s not going to be there.
“I can see both sides of the coin. I do believe that Conor does have a gripe. He does do more [media] than all of us, probably combined, outside of Ronda Rousey so if there might be some leeway there, it could be for him.
“But this is the big one. This is 200. This is the one you are obligated to promote so the UFC should stay firm in their stance.”
Cormier then referred to the argument made by FOX radio host Colin Cowherd when he claimed a millionaire like McGregor was never going to win ‘a whizzing contest’ with the billionaire Fertitta family [the UFC owners]. “This is a fight Conor can’t win,” he added.
Asked if he had reached out to the Dubliner to get him back in the biggest UFC event in seven years. His reply touched on the disgruntled fight fans threatening to boycott UFC 200. He said:
“[Reach out?] No, not really. We’re all fighters and we do want to stand on our own accord. We don’t want to ride Conor’s coat-tails or anything.
“He has done some great things in the sport, but we’re [Cormier and Jon Jones] fighting for the UFC Light Heavyweight championship. If that’s not big enough for you then you’ve got a problem.
“When you’re getting to see two of the best guys that have ever competed… two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world – and you’ve got Jose Aldo, Frankie Edgar, Miesha Tate, Amanda Nunes, Cain Velasquez, Travis Browne – if that’s not enough for you, you’re really just a fan of Conor McGregor and not a fan of fighting.”
Cormier has a point but everyone knows UFC 200 will be missing some magic without the featherweight champion and his welterweight vendetta.
