Mayweather vs. McGregor: 5 reasons the UFC wins no matter what

2. Setting a lucrative precedent

There have been several cross-sport clashes in the history of combat sports, but there’s never been anything comparable to Mayweather-McGregor. And even if the Irishman loses on Aug.26, this fight has proven that something like this is possible.

In 2015, Mayweather-Pacquiao was the biggest fight that this generation had ever seen, and while it was a complete disappointment, it set some seemingly unbreakable bench marks in terms of the revenue it generated. But Mayweather-McGregor draws fans from the two most popular combat sports, and there’s a very good chance that it will surpass Mayweather-Pacquiao in every financial aspect of the fight game, setting the new standard in everything from fighter pay to pay-per-view purchases.

Obviously, it’ll be tough for any other cross-sport contest to equal the interest and match the financials of Mayweather-McGregor. But thanks to this so-called “circus,” potential bouts between fighters such as UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic and heavyweight boxing champ Anthony Joshua will no longer be laughed at the minute they’re mentioned.

McGregor has also inspired fighters like Jon Jones to call out Brock Lesnar, and many of the Octagon’s biggest names are now hoping to compete in multiple divisions. Fighters in the UFC don’t make as much as professional boxers, but every time McGregor sets a new standard for fighter pay, even outside the Octagon, the bar moves a little higher for everyone else.

So whether it’s another sport or just another weight class within the UFC, it’s become clear that these fights have a legitimate place in the future of combat sports, and that means more money for all concerned.