Conor McGregor discusses ongoing issue of fighter pay

By Harry Kettle - July 10, 2026 at 1:06 AM PDT // 0 Comments

UFC star Conor McGregor has spoken about one of the most prevalent issues in the promotion these days – fighter pay.

This weekend at UFC 329, Conor McGregor will make his return to action when he collides with Max Holloway in a huge welterweight fight. It will serve as the first time he makes the walk to the cage in five years, and many fans have the same question: why?

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McGregor is easily the biggest star in the history of mixed martial arts and in addition to that, he has also earned more money than the majority of not only MMA fighters, but also combat sports athletes.

In a recent interview, McGregor spoke about the broader topic of fighter pay in the UFC, given the displeasure expressed by fans and some on the roster.

McGregor opens up on fighter pay

“I’ll always campaign for the fighters getting their worth, and I’m very happy with it,” McGregor said during Wednesday’s UFC 329 pre-fight news conference. “It’s a steady rise. If you ask Max, I’m sure it’s probably five times his highest pay. So the boys and the girls are getting there, and I will always campaign for that, and I’ll always be happy that I have helped spearhead that.

“As an owner of Bareknuckle Fighting Championship, it kind of puts me in a pickle. I always vouch for the fighters, but I also have a stake in the company. So there has to be some sort of balance. But still, I am a fighter at heart, I know what it takes in this business, and I know without the fighters, there is none of this – not an iota of it. So I’m happy that the money is rising in the fight business, and that we’re thriving, and I’m happy to be back, and give it that extra little fuel to its rocket, and off it goes.”

Quotes via MMA Junkie

What do you make of Conor’s remarks on this topic? Let us know in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM


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Conor McGregor UFC