Could the greatest boxer of this generation jump into another combat sport?
MORE: Official PPV numbers released for Mayweather-McGregor |
UFC president Dana White told ESPN.com that he is in discussion with Floyd Mayweather regarding a UFC deal.
"We're talking to Floyd about doing a UFC deal," White told ESPN.com .
"It's real. He was talking about [boxing] Conor McGregor. Was that real? Have you heard Floyd talk about many things that aren't real? He usually tips his hand when he's in the media, and then that s— ends up happening.
"We're interested in doing something with Floyd. Everything is a realistic possibility. Mayweather vs. McGregor f—ing happened. Anything is possible."
Multiple sources have confirmed to Sporting News the deal wouldn't be for Mayweather to step inside the Octagon. The deal would be for the boxing great to step back inside a ring under the Zuffa Boxing banner which could come to fruition in 2018, White said earlier this month.
Talk of a Mayweather-UFC deal started last week. Mayweather spoke about the possibility during a live-video stream.
"They just called me not too long ago and asked me to come back," said Mayweather, via Fight Hype .
"I can come right back. If I wanted 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."
It appeared Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) retired from the sport back in August after scoring a 10th-round TKO over current UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor.
Last week, Showtime announced the fight generated 4.3 million pay-per-view buys across North America and did over $600 million on revenue.
Could Mayweather- McGregor II happen this time under the Zuffa banner? Time will tell.
Steven Muehlhausen is an MMA and boxing writer and contributor for Sporting News. You can listen to his podcast, "The Fight Club Chicago," here . You can email him at [email protected] and can find him on Twitter @SMuehlhausenMMA .
