Conor McGregor Claims Terence Crawford Rejected $200 Million Fight Proposal

Conor McGregor, the former two-division UFC champion, stirred up conversation despite not competing at UFC Freedom 250 held at the White House on Sunday. His recent social media exchange with boxing star Terence Crawford drew attention following Crawford's comments mocking UFC fighter Ilia Topuria after Topuria's surprising defeat to Justin Gaethje.

McGregor responded to Crawford's remarks, defending Topuria and accusing Crawford of being hesitant to step into the MMA arena. During a discussion on "The Ariel Helwani Show," he expressed his displeasure with Crawford's behavior while sitting ringside. "He shouldn't have kicked a man when he was down, especially when you're ringside," McGregor remarked. He reminisced about a previous two-fight proposal involving himself and Crawford, which included a mix of MMA and boxing.

According to McGregor, this potential two-fight deal could have netted both fighters $200 million. He recalled reaching out to Crawford with the offer, only to receive a swift rejection. "I don't want to be kicked by you, no way," Crawford reportedly replied. McGregor expressed disbelief over Crawford's refusal, emphasizing his eagerness to test himself across different fighting formats.

McGregor's frustration was palpable, as he critiqued the insular mindset of many boxers. He stated, “This bubble that a lot of these people are in, this little protected bubble, I’d slap the head off every single one of them easily.” He also pointed out the differences between MMA and boxing, noting that Topuria's loss was a result of a mixed martial arts bout, not a boxing match.

As Crawford, now 38, announced his retirement last year with an impressive record of 42-0, McGregor is preparing for his return to the octagon after a five-year hiatus. He is set to face Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas. McGregor shared his thoughts on the recent title fight in his former division and remarked on the surprising outcome of Gaethje's victory.

Looking ahead, McGregor remains focused on reclaiming UFC gold, eyeing a potential matchup with the new champion, Gaethje, whom he believes he could defeat. "When he's on, he's good. But when he's off, he's atrocious. I fancy teeing off on Gaethje,” McGregor stated confidently.