Conor McGregor, Who Is Definitely Serious And Not Trolling The UFC, Registers To Fight As A Boxer

Conor McGregor was the champion of two UFC weight classes for all of two weeks until the UFC stripped him of the featherweight title last weekend. He hasn’t fought as a featherweight in almost a year, and the UFC vacated his title in part to spice up UFC 206's new main event and make it a title fight. McGregor hasn’t formally commented on the UFC’s decision yet, but this evening gave a response of sorts the only way he knows how: by relentlessly trolling the UFC.

Ariel Helwani and Brett Okamoto both report that McGregor has registered for his boxing license in California. This theoretically sets the table for the long-hyped fight between McGregor and Floyd Mayweather, which will never happen, especially consider he’s still under contract with the UFC.

This is nothing more than McGregor firing a shot across the bow of the UFC. McGregor makes a shit ton of money for them and he would like a cut of the action that more fairly represents what a big star he is. When they don’t play ball, he trolls them, like when he pretended to retire.

Still, the boxing folks are prepared to go along with the charade, per MMAFighting:

“He’s qualified [as a boxer],” [California State Athletic Commission executive officer Andy] Foster said. “I’d love to see him fight in California. It just needs to be the right opponent. Certainly a high-level opponent. We’re happy to license him. We’re happy he’s a California fighter.”

Mayweather is 39, while McGregor is coming to realize the height of his powers at a time when the UFC’s popularity stands to go through the roof. He isn’t leaving, but you can’t help but respect his serial mocking of the UFC.