Tickets for McGregor against Cerrone sell out in less than three minutes

C. McGregor (left) and D. Cerrone (right) accepted the confrontation. Photo: Montage SL/MMA Press

The prestige of Conor McGregor in MMA has been called into question in recent months. Coming from a defeat and without winning a professional fight since 2016, the athlete, who was once the most important name in the company, ended up ending 2019 without acting and with his name in decline. After announcing his return to the octagon against Donald Cerrone, UFC 246, on January 18, the story appears to have changed. Tickets for the show sold out in just three minutes and the box office has already generated US$10 million (approximately R$40 million). The information was released by 'Combate' following a statement by Dana White.

See too

Khabib Nurmagomedov is a former UFC champion. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @khabib_nurmagomedov

Khabib signals retirement again: 'I don't know when, but it's not far away'

With McGregor down, Cerrone rules out giving fight: 'For no money'

Deiveson talks about fighting for the flyweight belt: 'I'm going to kill and take what's mine'

Some critics still had doubts about whether McGregor was still a name capable of filling gyms and breaking pay-per-view sales records. The new achievement shows that the public is still interested in the Irishman and that he is still capable of achieving great things within the organization.

PUBLICITY:

There is a lot of expectation about how the athlete will perform after so much time away. There is pressure for the 'Notório' to win so that he can challenge Khabib Nurmagomedov, his biggest rival in the sport, in a rematch for the lightweight belt.

The first meeting between the Russian and the Irishman brought Ultimate the biggest audience in the company's history. In total, US$17.188.894,67 (approximately R$70 million) was raised for the attraction that took place in October 2018, at UFC 229. On that occasion, in addition to the great turnout of MMA fans, the public was able to watch the fall of Conor, who was defeated by submission in the fourth round.

PUBLICITY:

The clash between Cerrone and Conor will be held in the welterweight division (up to 77kg). According to White, the Irishman chose to present himself in a higher division than Khabib, as he intends to have more than two fights in 2020. The fight against Donald, then, would serve as preparation for the rest of the season and would not require going through more than two weight cuts.