What Conor McGregor has managed to do has impressed the hell out of Daniel Cormier.
Cormier is scheduled to provide the marquee MMA fight of the year with his light heavyweight title defence against Jon Jones in UFC 214's main event.
While this is undoubtedly a huge bout which will whet the appetite of hardcore and casual fans alike, there hasn't been much competition for the accolade of the most-anticipated fight of 2017.
It's fair to say that the hype hasn't been quite there for UFC cards this year. In 2016, the biggest draws in the sport were Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Ronda Rousey and Brock Lesnar. None of them has been active since 'Auld Lang Syne' was belted out on January 1.
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The difference between McGregor and the other inactive UFC superstars is that he has a fight booked. It just so happens to be the most lucrative one of the year, it's just not taking place in the UFC's Octagon.
McGregor managed to bring Floyd Mayweather, the man who's drawn the most eyes in sports history, out of retirement. According to Cormier, this feat has solidified his position as the greatest promoter ever, as he told
Fight Hype.
"Floyd had to listen for this to happen. Floyd had to take notice. How did Conor McGregor, a mixed martial arts guy – he has no boxing experience – get the attention of the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world, and maybe the best boxer of all-time? How did he do that?
“That’s why I say he’s the greatest promoter of all-time. This guy, he managed to get Floyd Mayweather to fight him. There are boxers in the world right now that are much more deserving of that mega-fight, in terms of credentials, but they could never get Floyd’s attention to make Floyd listen. Conor did that."
It wasn't that long ago that this diamond-encrusted panty night was being written off as a joke that would 'never, ever happen.' Now the date is set for August 26.
Maybe Cormier is onto something.
