Conor McGregor claimed his current UFC contract is “essentially void” following the promotion’s new broadcast deal with Paramount, arguing that the elimination of pay-per-view undermines the compensation structure tied to his agreement.
The remarks were made during a live stream in which McGregor was playing Roblox with his son alongside streamer Caylus, according to Yahoo Sports.
Long regarded as the UFC’s top pay-per-view draw, McGregor said his contract was structured around PPV revenue shares. With the UFC moving to Paramount+, where events will be available to subscribers without additional PPV fees, he argues the deal fundamentally alters the basis of his compensation.
“The pay-per-view system is done,” McGregor said. “I’m due a new contract.”
Negotiations with the UFC are expected to begin in February, as McGregor continues to express interest in a potential return at the proposed UFC event on the White House South Lawn in June.
McGregor’s comments come months after the UFC finalized a seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement with Paramount, shifting all major events to Paramount+ and CBS without a pay-per-view model.
The agreement places Paramount+ and CBS as the exclusive homes for UFC content, including 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Nights annually, eliminating the traditional pay-per-view model for most major cards.
Yet, the implications for Paramount, and some of UFC’s most iconic fighters, are profound and far reaching.
McGregor’s star power has historically driven massive pay-per-view buys, with UFC bouts against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier ranking among the promotion’s highest-grossing events. Without pay-per-view revenue, the UFC and Paramount must rely more heavily on subscription growth and alternative compensation structures for top-drawing fighters.
The 37-year-old has remained in the public spotlight in recent months following his announced bid to run for president of Ireland and a high-profile St. Patrick’s Day visit to the White House alongside President Donald Trump.
McGregor’s remarks come as the UFC prepares for its first year under the Paramount deal, a transition that could reshape how the promotion structures fighter compensation and marquee events.
He has not competed since suffering a leg injury in July 2021 against Dustin Poirier but said he has begun training in anticipation of a potential return.
In an interview published Monday by The Sun, McGregor said, “I’m warming up now for the White House fight. I’m gonna be at it, for sure.”
As the UFC’s Paramount era begins with UFC 324 next weekend, McGregor’s comments highlight the contractual questions facing top fighters as the promotion transitions away from pay-per-view. Whether those claims lead to a renegotiated deal or renewed tension with the UFC remains unclear.