Morning Report: Floyd Mayweather says he has multi-fight offer with UFC, can 'make a billion dollars'
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the most financially successful boxer of all-time, and now it’s possible he could become the most financially successful MMA fighter ever too.
Back in August, Mayweather stopped Conor McGregor with a 10th-round TKO, earning an estimated $300 million in the process. It was one of the most lucrative fights of all time and though Mayweather retired after the fight, preserving his 50-0 boxing record, many speculated that the lure of a rematch between the two and the hundreds of millions of dollars that would potentially go with it would lure Mayweather back out of retirement once again. Now those rumors can flourish in full as Mayweather recently suggested there’s a huge offer waiting for him, but this time with the UFC.
Appearing in a live stream on Instagram captured by Fight Hype, Mayweather told his fans that he has a multi-fight offer with the UFC that would make him “a billion dollars.”
"You already know I'm a money-getting motherf**ker,” Mayweather said. “I'm Money May. They just called me not too long ago and asked me to come back. I can come right back. If I want to, I can come right back to the UFC. I can go fight in the Octagon. I can do a three- or four-fight deal in the Octagon and make a billion dollars. Remember, I'm Floyd 'Money' Mayweather, and you motherf**kers love me, and I love you mother**kers."
This isn’t the first time Mayweather has suggested fighting in the UFC would be possible. At various points in time he has said that he “runs MMA” and during the London pre-fight press conference with McGregor leading up to “The Money Fight,” Mayweather told McGregor he would “whip your ass in the octagon.” McGregor also said that Mayweather told him they would rematch in the octagon after their fight.
And though it seems unlikely - what with Mayweather being 40 years old, an MMA novice, and once again retired from competition - that amount of money can make a lot of unlikely things very possible. After all, it wasn’t long ago that McGregor boxing Mayweather seemed impossible, and like McGregor, Mayweather does not lack in confidence in any of his athletic abilities.
“At the end of the day, I’m the best athlete ever.”
MUST-READ STORIES
Stench. Daniel Cormier compares Jon Jones fiasco to getting “pissed on by a skunk.”
Rematch. Alexander Gustafsson still wants a rematch with “real champion” Jon Jones.
Champ. Robert Whittaker is happy to “have closure” with the middleweight title situation.
MVF. Eddie Alvarez says he created the Most Violent Fighter title because UFC belts have “not a lot of value.”
Fight. Robert Whittaker and Luke Rockhold squared off for the first time.
VIDEO STEW
The MMA After Hour.
KO of the week.
Derrick Lewis pulling for Ngannou.
Freddie discussing GSP and Pacquiao-McGregor.
KSW is putting on a fight between a rapper and an actor because it’s wild. The rapper has five MMA fights and the actor is a judoka. Also, the rapper has eye tattoos and facial scarification. I repeat, KSW is wild.
Coach Roddy showing how to create angles.
LISTEN UP
Anik and Florian. Matt Serra discusses the pair of losses his guys took at UFC Fresno.
Obviously Fight Talk. UFC Fresno recap plus a UFC Winnipeg preview.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Poirier really wants the Eddie fight.
Took my time today and wrapped your Christmas presents nice @Ealvarezfight pic.twitter.com/rneFy3fCpC
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) December 12, 2017
He doesn't have a Mega fight on the horizon My management spoke to the UFC yesterday, he's just trying to save face and dodge the rematch. https://t.co/giEljguGXP
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) December 12, 2017
The faceoff.
Perth make sure your ready #ufc221 @ufc @lukerockhold pic.twitter.com/uEOtMOTh1k
— Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) December 12, 2017
Sounds like Tuivasa will be on the Perth card.
Hey guess whaaaaaat ☺️ I told y’all it’s the take over keep your and out news coming soon #bambam #FTA #foboriginal #fatlete #thetakeover #westernsydney #itstime
Posted by Tai Tuivasa on Tuesday, December 12, 2017
To go along with his “fishhook isn’t a takedown defense” line.
I gassed halfway through the first round , I could breathe fine but my body was dead , don't know what happened to me
— Jason TheKid Knight (@Jasonthekid23) December 12, 2017
Seems impossible the UFC won’t do this.
Give the fans around the world what they want and let the Hawaiians come home for one #UFCHawaii #alohaslways https://t.co/4HLBMqKCMl
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) December 12, 2017
Colby being Colby.
Practice what you preach Tyquil! @TWooodley, quit running and come get this ass whoopin with your name on it. #TwoFaceTyrone #UFCtoTMZ pic.twitter.com/r8tSutUF2G
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) December 12, 2017
6-0 in the UFC, 4 decisions.
No one fights me and remains the same. I take a piece of your soul out of that octagon with me!!
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) December 13, 2017
Very cool.
It's super cool the new owners of the @Fearthefighter brand are making it up to the fighters that didn't get paid by the old ones!
— Tim Elliott (@TElliott125) December 13, 2017
The new owners found me and made things right!! I'm glad they are doing this, the gear is legit!
— Tim Elliott (@TElliott125) December 13, 2017
Watch this.
Remember the time @PlatinumPerry bumped into @darrentill2 on the cold streets of Poland and warned him about getting a "Tetris shot"? These are the animated tales of #TheMMAHour. (Animation by the great @caseharts.) pic.twitter.com/MF4eQm2lus
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 12, 2017
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Valentina Shevchenko (14-3) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (8-0); UFC Belem, Feb. 3.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2006: The UFC held their first ever event on a military base with UFC Fight Night 7, which saw Diego Sanchez KO Joe Riggs with a knee in the first round.
2008: The Next Anderson Silva Era was put on hold as Efrain Escudero won a unanimous decision over Phillipe Nover to win The Ultimate Fighter 8 lightweight tournament at the TUF 8 Finale. In the co-main event that evening, Ryan Bader knocked out Vinny Magalhaes to claim the light heavyweight tournament.
2014: Current UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic los for the final time, coming up short on a decision to Junior dos Santos at UFC on Fox 13. On the undercard, Joanna Jedrzejczyk beat Claudia Gadelha by split decision to earn a shot at the UFC strawweight title.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Not a lot of faith in Mark Hunt from yesterday’s poll, and that’s fair, but man an Ngannou-Hunto fight would be something I’m definitely interested in seeing if things shook out like that.
Anyway, that’s all for today folks. Take it easy and see y’all tomorrow.
EXIT POLL
If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram, add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting, and like us on Facebook.