Two superstars, two sports, one extremely lucrative mega-spectacle: In August 2017—nine years ago today—Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor stepped into the ring.
On August 26, 2017—nine years ago today—two of the greatest combat sports stars of their generation faced off in Las Vegas.
On one side was Floyd Mayweather, nicknamed “Money,” the undefeated world boxing champion in five weight classes, who was actually already retired. On the other side was Conor “The Notorious” McGregor, a two-time UFC champion and the face of mixed martial arts—though the Irishman had never fought in a professional boxing match before.
The fact that this fight even took place was by no means a given. After all, two worlds stood between them: boxing on one side, the UFC on the other. Ultimately, the showdown was the result of a long-standing feud, a high-stakes gamble, and a promotional tour the likes of which the sports world has rarely seen.
Mayweather vs. McGregor: A Mega-Fight with a Backstory
The backstory dates back to 2015. At the time, Mayweather hinted to the media that McGregor’s success was also linked to his Irish heritage. The UFC star responded with a clear statement on Facebook: People should never again link his achievements to his race. He is Irish, and his people have always been oppressed. He knew all too well what discrimination and prejudice were like.
In the months that followed, speculation about a possible matchup grew louder and louder. UFC boss Dana White initially dismissed the idea as completely out of the blue. “I’d put the odds like this: about as likely as me being Brady’s backup quarterback on Sunday,” he said at the time, referring to the 2017 Super Bowl. Mayweather later admitted that he had, in part, fueled the rumors about a possible mega-fight himself.
Weeks later, an agreement was reached: the two superstars would step into the ring against each other in the welterweight division. Mayweather and McGregor then embarked on an international promotional tour, engaging in heated verbal sparring, jabs, and media-friendly provocations at joint press conferences in various cities around the world.
Shortly before fight night, the mood took a surprising turn: At both the final press conference and the official weigh-in, both men were conspicuously reserved and respectful.
McGregor surprises Mayweather in the ring
On fight night in Las Vegas, the underdog came out firing. McGregor landed several clean shots in the early rounds, even mocked Mayweather, and at times boxed with his hands behind his back. The American, on the other hand, fought almost exclusively on the defensive and appeared visibly surprised by his opponent’s strong performance.
But then the tide turned: Mayweather abandoned his passive stance and gradually picked up the pace. The then 40-year-old dominated the following rounds against his opponent, who was 11 years his junior; the Irishman’s growing exhaustion was evident.
In the ninth round, McGregor took a series of heavy blows before Mayweather switched fully to the offensive in the tenth round and sent his opponent reeling dangerously. Referee Robert Byrd then stepped in and ended the fight by technical knockout.
For Mayweather, it was his 50th victory in his 50th professional fight—and also the final bout of his career.
“He was much better than I expected,” the American admitted after the fight, but emphasized that everything had gone according to plan. McGregor himself respected his opponent’s superior performance but criticized the stoppage: He would have liked to fight the final rounds, even if it meant staying on the ground if necessary.
Only one fight generated even more revenue
Financially, the fight reached impressive proportions. The guaranteed purse totaled $100 million for Mayweather and $30 million for McGregor. However, according to Forbes, actual revenue—including pay-per-view proceeds, sponsorships, and other sources—was significantly higher. McGregor is said to have earned around $85 million, while Mayweather raked in a staggering $275 million.
The number of regular tickets sold ultimately totaled around 13,000, generating approximately $55.4 million. However, the majority of the revenue came from pay-per-view sales: In the U.S. alone, the fight was purchased approximately 4.3 million times at a price of $100 each.
This made the spectacle one of the most successful fight nights in history. Only the legendary 2015 bout between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao achieved even higher pay-per-view sales figures.
As a result, the exhibition fight between Mayweather and McGregor remains to this day one of the most lucrative and high-profile events that combat sports has ever seen.