Conor McGregor says Terence Crawford turned down a proposed two-fight deal worth $200 million that would have paired them in both MMA and boxing.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, McGregor said Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh put Crawford on the phone with him to discuss the idea. The plan, according to McGregor, was for one fight inside the UFC Octagon and another in a boxing ring.
McGregor said Crawford rejected the offer because he did not want to deal with kicks in MMA. “I don’t want to be kicked by you, no way,” McGregor recalled Crawford telling him.
The former UFC champion said he was surprised by Crawford’s response, claiming he has seen footage of Crawford wrestling and believes the retired boxing star has some grappling ability. “I know he can wrestle,” McGregor said. “He walked out of a two-fight deal.”
Crawford, a retired five-division champion, has shown little interest in fighting again. He is due to receive the BWAA fighter-of-the-year award in New York on June 25, while McGregor is scheduled to return against Max Holloway on July 11.
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