Conor McGregor is on his way back to the UFC’s Octagon. He will face Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. McGregor was a guest on the Ariel Helwani Show on Tuesday and he opened up about several subjects including a potential two-fight deal with boxing legend Terence Crawford. According to McGregor, Crawford turned down a $200 million deal. Let’s talk boxing.
Key Facts at a Glance
- McGregor claims a two-fight crossover deal (MMA first, boxing second) was offered to Crawford via Turki Alalshikh.
- He says the package was worth $200 million, and that Crawford declined because he didn’t want to fight under MMA rules.
- Crawford has not publicly confirmed the offer or the figure, and there is no independent verification.
- Crawford retired in December 2025 at 42-0 after upsetting Canelo Alvarez.
- McGregor returns at UFC 329 against Max Holloway on July 11, his first fight since 2021.
What Did Conor McGregor Say About Terence Crawford?
McGregor had taken a shot at Crawford after the boxer poked fun at Ilia Topuria following the latter’s fourth-round TKO loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. McGregor came to Topuria’s defense and called Crawford out for being “afraid” to compete in MMA. Crawford fired back with his own jab at McGregor. The exchange prompted Helwani’s question and McGregor opened up about the lucrative offer for Crawford to fight him, though the latter declined.
By McGregor’s account, he personally got Crawford on the phone to pitch the crossover. He quoted the boxer shutting it down with a blunt “I don’t want to be kicked by you,” then questioned how a fighter wouldn’t want to test himself.
What Were The Details Of The $200 Million Offer?
McGregor didn’t get into the exact details, but he did say it would be a two-fight deal. Quite honestly, if it was boxing only, it would have ended horribly for McGregor. He would have been battered worse than he was against Mayweather. If it was MMA in one and boxing in the other, the two men would have split, but I’d venture to say Crawford would do better in MMA than McGregor has in boxing. Crawford has some wrestling background and he’s also proven he can compete as high as 168 pounds. McGregor would win in MMA, but it wouldn’t be as one-sided as their boxing match would have been.
For the structure McGregor laid out, the series would have run MMA first and boxing second, assembled with Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi power broker behind boxing’s biggest recent cards. McGregor framed it as a fair trade, with each man forced to meet the other on his own turf.
Why Did Terence Crawford Turn Down The Deal?
Crawford has routinely said that he favors boxing over MMA. He has shown no interest in competing under those rules. And after making generational wealth as a boxer, he’s not in a position where he has to fight solely for money.
He also has nothing left to prove. Crawford retired 42-0 after beating Canelo Alvarez to become the first male boxer to hold undisputed titles in three divisions, and he has remained a vocal presence in the sport without any urgency to return.
Could McGregor vs. Crawford Still Happen?
I strongly doubt it. Crawford has nothing to gain by fighting McGregor. With McGregor locked in for the last two fights on his UFC deal, he will have no shortage of suitors to climb in the ring or Octagon with him.
Timing is the bigger obstacle. McGregor’s return at UFC 329 against Holloway is only the first of those two contracted bouts, with the second reportedly targeted for 2027, so any crossover would be years away even if both sides somehow warmed to it.
