In 2015, the UFC had a pretty good year that features fights from Jon Jones, Conor McGregor, and Ronda Rousey. In 2026, the UFC has the opportunity to bring all three back, but it’s looking like the promotion might go 0-3 with booking its biggest superstars.
First there was Ronda Rousey, who will fight Gina Carano for Jake Paul’s MVP promotion on Netflix. She said UFC CEO Dana White offered her an amazing pay-per-view deal to fight again for UFC, then the Paramount+ deal came along and ended PPVs.
Now? “It’s in their best interest actually not to put on the best fights possible, but to spend as little as money as possible so that he can keep it,” Rousey said.
Now there’s Jon Jones, who begged to be on the UFC White House card but instead was replaced by Ciryl Gane, who will fight Alex Pereira at ‘Freedom Fights 250.’ White said Jones was never a real consideration for the card and even said Jones was retired … which led Jones to ask, “I’m released from UFC?”
Coming up is the UFC’s last superstar, Conor McGregor. “The Notorious” also begged to be on the White House, but UFC simply wasn’t willing to lose out on the $20+ million gate McGregor generates to put him at the White House. Instead, there are reports he’s being slotted onto the International Fight Week card in Las Vegas on July 11th.
But can the promotion actually come to a deal with McGregor, who recently said his current contract was void after pay-per-views were shut down? White was asked if he had any news about McGregor, who offered to fight Charles Oliveira following “Do Bronx’s” UFC 326 win over Max Holloway.
“No,” White said at the post-fight press conference. “But we are definitely talking to Conor, obviously.”
“We have no date for Conor right now,” he said later. “Not even close.”
McGregor has been spent the last three weeks calling for a contract to be sent with nothing to show for it. He described the back and forth with UFC in a recent interview with Chael Sonnen.
“‘Well, we’re gonna offer you this opponent.’ ‘Yes. No problem. I accept,'” McGregor said. “Day after day after day. ‘No problem.’ ‘We’ll send the contract.’ ‘Excellent. It’s a great match-up. That’s a great match-up. That’s a great match-up’ is all you ever heard out of me, and no contact came. And that’s kinda where I’m at. Still here in this limbo.”
“Audi [Attar], my manager, is out there in Las Vegas on Monday for a face to face meeting. I hope a respectable offer comes through. I’m notoriously good to deal with. I’m an honest man. I admire fairness. I’m sure we can get it done.”
Honestly, we’re not so sure ourselves. Will the TKO bean counters in control of the UFC even allow the promotion to pay a fighter like Conor McGregor what he’s worth? If they’re willing to pass on Ronda Rousey and Jon Jones, why should we expect them to pull off a new deal with Conor McGregor? At this point, it seems they’re perfectly content to keep him on the sidelines so no one can book him. What fair deal can be reached when UFC has no incentive to make one?
