Conor McGregor is the reason why UFC champions don't get paid more, claims former heavyweight contender

Conor McGregor is undoubtedly the biggest star the sport of MMA has ever produced, even featuring on Forbes' list of highest paid athletes in 2021. According to former UFC heavyweight Ben Rothwell, the promotion will never willingly let another athlete rise to the same level as McGregor.

Rothwell recently noted that becoming a UFC champion doesn't necessarily mean financial success will follow, except maybe in the case of McGregor. Apart from his lucrative salary, 'The Notorious' has consistently been a shareholder in the UFC pay-per-views featuring him.

The Dubliner also remains the only exception to an otherwise strict policy that forbids UFC fighters from competing outside the UFC. Rothwell believes the UFC is unlikely to make such exceptions again given their experience with Conor McGregor. The 41-year-old said on MMA Junkie Radio:

"Maybe for Conor McGregor and Conor makes a special deal at a special contract, but I'm pretty sure the UFC, after what they went through with him, are never gonna let that happen again. Be a wild man, being crazy, making the demands, getting the crazy pays that he got. They don't want that. Anything that hurts the pocketbook... The shit's gonna come to a stop with that. That means fighters are gonna suffer. It means fighters aren't gonna get what they deserve."

Catch Rothwell's comments below:

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When will Conor McGregor fight again?

Conor McGregor has been out of action for around a year and a half nursing a broken leg. McGregor's coach John Kavanagh has now essentially guaranteed that the Dubliner will return to the octagon this year.

'The Notorious' has no dearth of opponents eyeing a lucrative payday against him despite his recent inaction. According to Kavanagh, McGregor's opponent will be the most crucial driving factor behind the Dubliner's octagon return. The SBG Ireland head coach said on The MMA Hour:

"I’m very, very confident that we’ll see Conor back in the octagon this year... For Conor, for training for this next fight, he’s definitely got to find something that’s massively motivating to him to get him out of the silk pants and into the sweaty gym. What’s it going to be? A couple million more? Is that really going to motivate him? I don’t think so."

He added:

"He has a couple championship belts. Is that it? I don’t think so. So I think it’s more going to be a particular opponent, a particular skill set and how it matches up against him.”

Catch Kavanagh's comments below: