Is Conor McGregor’s UFC Contract Void Due to Outdated PPV Language?

Is Conor McGregor’s UFC contract outdated in the new streaming era?

With the UFC’s evolving broadcast landscape, including its shift away from the traditional pay-per-view model toward streaming platforms like Paramount+, questions are beginning to surface about how superstar contracts are structured.

For years, premium fighters like McGregor have negotiated lucrative pay-per-view (PPV) points into their deals. A percentage of PPV buys has historically made up a massive portion of their overall compensation. But if traditional PPV “buys” are no longer a revenue metric, how does that language translate in today’s environment?

The PPV Problem

McGregor and other elite draws built their earning power on a formula: Base Pay + PPV Points = Massive Payday.

Since the UFC model has changed and the concept of individual PPV buys is obsolete, those contract clauses are outdated. While the UFC has reportedly been working through the logistics, there doesn’t appear to be a simple, one-size-fits-all solution.

So what replaces PPV points?

Flat-Rate Guarantees?

One potential fix is significantly higher guaranteed purses. That may benefit the broader roster, provide more security, give bigger base pay, and fewer variables.

But for true needle-movers, flat guarantees can feel limiting. A superstar who would drive millions of purchases in the old PPV model may not be satisfied with a capped payout structure. For someone like McGregor, whose drawing power has consistently broken records, the financial implications are enormous.

Alternative Compensation Models

Since PPV buys are no longer the benchmark, some different compensation could shift toward. However unlikely, some creative ideas in place of PPV buys could be:

• Event-wide viewership numbers
• Subscriber growth tied to a specific event
• Fight-specific minute-by-minute viewership metrics
• Revenue-sharing tied to sponsorship or ad sales
• Performance-based bonuses scaled to digital engagement

This would likely force managers to renegotiate contracts aggressively, especially for fighters who historically drew large backend revenue.

What Does This Mean for Conor’s UFC Contract?

Recently, McGregor posted, and quickly deleted, claiming he was offered an opponent and a date, that he accepted, and that he was waiting on his contract.

That raises several questions:

• Is he waiting to sign a standard bout agreement?
• Or is he negotiating a new overarching deal?
• Has the opponent officially been offered the fight and/or accepted?
• Does the proposed date work for the opponent as well?
• Could the date be the White House card?

We may get clarity soon. But until then, the business side of McGregor’s return might be just as intriguing as the fight itself.

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About Post Author

Connor Rogowsky

Connor “Rags” Rogowsky is a Co-Founder of The Scrap, where he contributes MMA content and occasionally delves into the world of pro wrestling. A former collegiate athlete in football and track, Connor pairs his sports experience with academic expertise to the pieces he writes. He holds a Master of Science in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University.

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