Dana White Details What Conor McGregor’s New UFC Deal Might Look Like
The return of Conor McGregor to the UFC Octagon has long been one of the most anticipated stories in combat sports, a narrative fueled by years of speculation, near-misses, and the occasional tantalizing hint from the fighter himself. Five years after his last appearance in the cage—a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264—McGregor’s eventual comeback has become less about the when and more about the how, particularly as the financial landscape of the sport has shifted dramatically. Injuries, suspensions, and personal matters have kept McGregor away, but the biggest hurdle now is money: specifically, how the UFC will compensate its biggest draw in an era where traditional pay-per-view revenue has been upended by the move to Paramount+. For McGregor, who once thrived on the lucrative PPV model, the question of how he will be paid has taken center stage.
At the UFC 328 post-show press conference, UFC President Dana White addressed these concerns directly, offering a rare glimpse into how the promotion plans to structure a deal for McGregor that ensures he remains one of the highest-paid athletes in combat sports. “There’s a formula to it,” White said. “McGregor’s going to do just fine. Based on, if you take the average of his pay-per-view buys and what they do, there’s an equation for that, that you can—I mean, we’ve done it with a lot more guys than just McGregor.”
White’s comments suggest that the UFC is prepared to adapt its compensation model to account for the loss of PPV revenue, using a combination of historical buy rates and other metrics to ensure McGregor’s financial security. The shift to Paramount+ has already begun to reshape fighter earnings, as the traditional PPV model—once a cornerstone of the UFC’s business—has been replaced by a subscription-based model. Fighters, including McGregor, have reportedly been negotiating new contracts to reflect this change, though specifics remain tightly guarded.
From PPV to Paramount: The Financial Evolution of UFC Fighter Deals
Under the old model, fighters like McGregor benefited directly from PPV buys, with a portion of revenue from each sale going into their purses. The UFC’s move to Paramount+, however, means that PPV is no longer a factor in fighter compensation. Instead, the promotion is now part of a $7.7 billion media rights deal with Paramount, which promises greater exposure but also raises questions about how fighters will be paid in the absence of PPV revenue.
According to industry reports, the UFC’s transition to Paramount+ has led some fighters to argue that their existing contracts are now “void,” as the financial incentives tied to PPV have disappeared. Dana White has previously acknowledged that the new deal will impact fighter payouts, though he has emphasized that the UFC remains committed to ensuring its top stars are compensated fairly. “We’re going to make sure the guys get taken care of,” White said in earlier statements, adding that the promotion is exploring new ways to structure deals that reflect the current market.
For McGregor, whose name alone has driven record PPV buys in the past, the challenge is to translate his star power into a sustainable income stream under the new model. White’s insistence that “there’s a formula” suggests that the UFC is working to replicate the financial benefits McGregor once enjoyed, using data and historical performance as the basis for his new contract.
Comparing McGregor’s Potential Deal to the Boxing World
White was also asked about how the UFC structures deals compared to boxing promotions like TKO, which have been making headlines for their high-profile fighter contracts. The example of Conor Benn, McGregor’s younger brother and a rising star in boxing, was cited as a point of comparison. Benn reportedly signed an eight-figure deal with TKO for a single fight in April 2026, marking one of the largest single-fight purses in boxing history. When pressed for details on how such deals are structured, White was characteristically tight-lipped.
“I don’t give out anybody’s numbers ever, Conor Benn, Conor McGregor, and anybody else here,” White said. “If Conor Benn wants to talk about his contract and how much he’s making, then talk to him about it.” The UFC’s approach to transparency on fighter earnings remains consistent with its long-standing policy, leaving the specifics of McGregor’s deal to be determined through private negotiations.
While the UFC’s new model may not replicate the exact financial structure of boxing deals, White’s comments imply that the promotion is confident it can find a way to ensure McGregor’s return is both profitable and fair. The key, according to White, lies in leveraging McGregor’s past performance and fanbase to create a new compensation framework that works within the constraints of the Paramount+ era.
What’s Next for McGregor and the UFC?
As negotiations continue, the focus remains on securing a deal that satisfies both McGregor and the UFC. The fighter has hinted at a potential return in the near future, though no official date or opponent has been announced. White’s recent statements suggest that progress is being made, but the exact terms of McGregor’s deal—and how it will differ from his previous contracts—remain unclear.
The next checkpoint for fans will likely be an official announcement from the UFC or McGregor’s camp, confirming the details of his return. Until then, the conversation will continue to revolve around the financial and logistical challenges of bringing one of the sport’s biggest names back to the Octagon in a way that benefits both the fighter and the promotion.
For now, the anticipation remains as high as ever. The return of Conor McGregor is not just a story about a fighter coming back to the cage; it’s a story about how combat sports are evolving in the face of changing media landscapes. And if Dana White’s comments are any indication, McGregor’s comeback is poised to be as groundbreaking off the field as it will be inside the Octagon.
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