Conor McGregor returned in spectacular fashion at UFC 246, which has reignited discussions of a potential rematch with lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) took out Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds on Saturday. It was his first fight since losing by fourth-round submission to Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) in October 2018 at UFC 229.
Following McGregor’s win, UFC president Dana White said the rematch between McGregor and Nurmagomedov is absolutely the fight to make. For his part, Khabib’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, says his son is willing to rematch McGregor after fighting Tony Ferguson in April – under one condition.
“We also need revenge against Conor, but give us $100 million,” Abdulmanap told Russian media outlet RIA Novosti. “The day after the fight against Ferguson, give us that amount, and then why not hold a rematch? I don’t know, maybe Dana White wants to arrange it (for that amount). He needs that fight.”
$100 million is an unheard-of figure for a fighter’s pay for one fight. In build-up to UFC 246, McGregor claimed that he would make $80 million for the Cerrone fight, which could be the basis for Abdulmanap’s number.
Khabib made a flat $6 million dollars to show in his win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi, the highest flat rate a UFC fighter has ever made. While $100 million is a tall ask, a rematch vs. McGregor would almost certainly generate Nurmagomedov’s largest payday.
Khabib Nurmagomedov's father puts $100 million price tag on Conor McGregor rematch