At Wednesday's press conference to promote Saturday's bout against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, Conor McGregor was asked if he would prefer to face welterweight champion Kamaru Usman or BMF champion Jorge Masvidal. McGregor said he'd rather face the man who became the "baddest motherf—er" when he beat Nate Diaz at UFC 244.
McGregor vs. Masvidal would be a monumental fight, one that could sell out an NFL stadium. The league's newest attraction opens up in Las Vegas next season with the Raiders leaving Oakland and moving into their new building. Getting an opportunity to christen Allegiant Stadium with McGregor is something that excites Masvidal.
"It would be huge," Masvidal told DAZN News at a press conference on Thursday. "(Does it hold) 60,000 people I want to say or something like that? It would be huge just for the box office and pop that cherry. That would be huge."
While taking on the marquee name in mixed martial arts is something Masvidal desires, he isn't necessarily willing to sit and wait for McGregor to be ready.
"I’m not waiting for anybody," Masvidal said. "If contracts are signed and the right money is in front of me — yes, I’ll wait for an event like International Fight Week or something like that, but a contract would have to be signed and things of that nature. That’s what I mean by not waiting for nobody. I’m not going to hope that someone is in shape by November and then maybe I get a fantasy fight. Things have to be signed and in place."
Masvidal has more options than just McGregor, as Usman and Masvidal have been verbally going back-and-forth. Who would "Gamebred" choose, though, if McGregor and Usman were available to fight in the same timeframe?
"It’s a money thing first," Masvidal said. "But if I’m getting paid in full for both and for some reason it is the same food, I like Conor, what he does in there. I like all the eyeballs he brings to the sport. Usman, I can’t stand that dude. But it’s a business, right? Always, especially for me. So I pick Conor.
"But if it’s all the same potatoes and tomatoes, I will break Usman’s face in a violent way. I don't think he's been playing. At first, I came in with a lot of respect. And now, you're talking s—. I just want to shut his mouth."