Conor McGregor has set a new UFC record without even fighting.
‘Notorious’ has been out injured for three years, but he’s proved he’s still the biggest star in MMA by setting a new gate (money from ticket sales) record ahead of his comeback fight.
McGregor vs Chandler is one of the most eagerly anticipated UFC fights of all timeCredit: Getty
McGregor is set to fight Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in Las Vegas on June 29.
Tickets for the eagerly anticipated event at the T-Mobile Arena went on sale on April 26, and just over two weeks later a new UFC gate record has been set.
On Saturday night, Dana White confirmed that McGregor’s return to MMA has already generated more than $20million in ticket sales without selling out.
”It’s already way over twenty million,” he said about the UFC 303 gate at the UFC St. Louis post-fight press conference.
The former president of Showtime Sports Stephen Espinoza famously ridiculed White and the UFC for never doing a $20million gate ahead of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s fight with Jermell Charlo last September.
“Not all combat sports is the same,” he said.
“No disrespect to anyone, but there are levels to this. This event will generate a gate of over $20million. Our third $20million+ gate in the last six months.
“To put that in perspective – the UFC has never done a $20million gate in its entire history. We’ve done it three times since April.”
White happily announced his fist $20M+ gateCredit: Getty
Espinoza mocked the UFC for its low gates before getting firedCredit: Esther Lin/Showtime
Since then, Espinoza has lost his job and Showtime no longer covers boxing.
White added: “Who gives a flying f*** what Espinoza thinks? Where is Espinoza? Who gives a s***?
Two of the UFC’s biggest-ever gates have been recorded this year.
In March, UFC 299 made $14,142,904 in ticket sales to become the promotion’s fifth-biggest gate of all time.
A month later, UFC 300 made $16,508,823 to take third sport on the list behind two events that were topped by McGregor during his peak years.
The Irishman’s fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018 sold more pay-per-views than any other MMA event, but it’s only second on the gate list with $17,188,895 in ticket sales.
Two years earlier, McGregor set the record he has just broken when he knocked out Eddie Alvarez to become the first dual-weight UFC champion at an event that made $17,700,000 at the gate.
With his biggest star back and the UFC becoming more popular than ever, UFC 303 may be the first of many $20million+ gates for White.
McGregor’s new record will be officially confirmed on fight night.
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