Conor McGregor responds to Alvarez’s victory over Christian Mbilli by questioning the boxing event’s viewership and attendance figures while claiming he can outsell the biggest names in combat sports.
Canelo Alvarez reclaimed the WBC super middleweight title on Saturday after defeating Mbilli by unanimous decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. However, McGregor showed little interest in discussing Alvarez’s performance.
Instead, the former UFC two-division champion focused on the event’s commercial success and promised to set new records when he returns to the Octagon.
McGregor took to X to question the number of viewers who watched the fight, the attendance and the event’s gate revenue. He also claimed that he could outperform other major combat sports stars in sales, even without putting much effort into promoting his fights.
“How many views did the Canelo fight get? How many in attendance? Gate? Man I outdo ALL of these people in sales,” McGregor wrote on X. “Majorly. EVERY SINGLE ONE. With ease. Maybe even combined. I don’t even be trying. I was on the same time as the World Cup semi final and still done all them numbers in that last bullshit that I’ve to sit with for another few months before I return.
“I’m going to actually try to sell the fight for my next one. My final fight. See what numbers I can generate. Keep outdoing my own records.”
McGregor’s comments drew criticism from some social media users, who pointed to Alvarez’s consistent activity in boxing compared with the Irishman’s lengthy absence from competition.
Despite the criticism, McGregor remains confident in his ability to attract a massive audience whenever he returns to the UFC. The former lightweight and featherweight champion has built a reputation as one of the sport’s biggest pay-per-view draws, with his rivalry against Khabib Nurmagomedov producing one of the most successful events in UFC history.
His crossover boxing match against Floyd Mayweather in 2017 also generated enormous commercial interest, further establishing his status as a major attraction in combat sports.
However, McGregor’s return to the Octagon has faced repeated setbacks. His planned comeback against Max Holloway at UFC 329 fell apart after he suffered injuries to his ACL and meniscus, forcing him to undergo surgery and restart his recovery.
The setback has raised fresh questions about his fighting future, especially as he continues to describe his next appearance as his final fight under his current UFC contract.
McGregor has targeted a return in 2027, with International Fight Week emerging as a possible date. He now hopes to recover fully and make one final appearance inside the Octagon.
