A New Financial Landscape for UFC Superstars
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has been eagerly anticipating the comeback of its most prominent star, Conor McGregor. However, the organization's business model has undergone a significant transformation since the former two-division titleholder last competed nearly five years ago.
As of early 2026, the UFC entered a massive $7.7 billion broadcast agreement with Paramount. This shift effectively ended the traditional pay-per-view (PPV) model for numbered events, which are now available to Paramount+ subscribers without additional fees. This transition raised concerns regarding how athletes, particularly top-tier draws like McGregor who historically relied on a percentage of PPV sales, would be compensated.
Updating the Compensation Formula
Addressing concerns about athlete pay in the new broadcast era, UFC CEO Dana White explained that the company has implemented a revised system. During the UFC 328 post-fight press conference, White emphasized that high-profile fighters are being looked after using a specific metric based on their historical earning potential.
"There's a formula to it. McGregor's going to do just fine. It's based on if you take the average of his pay-per-view buys, and what they do, there's an equation for that that you can — we've done it with a lot more guys than just McGregor,"White stated.
The Long Road Back to Action
McGregor, now 37, has been sidelined since his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021, a bout that ended in a first-round TKO defeat after the Irishman suffered a severe leg injury. Since that event, McGregor's return to competition has been delayed multiple times. Most notably, a scheduled 2024 showdown with Michael Chandler was canceled just weeks before the event due to a broken toe.
Expectations for 2026
Despite the lack of a finalized contract, Dana White remains encouraged by the prospect of seeing the star back in action. While the CEO was quick to clarify that nothing is currently set in stone, his outlook is more positive than in previous years.
"There's no deal done with Conor. I was just saying I'm confident. I was confident last year, too, but I'm way more confident this year," White concluded.