TLDR
- Conor McGregor claims his UFC contract is void due to the end of the pay-per-view model under the new Paramount deal
- McGregor will enter contract negotiations with the UFC in February 2026
- The fighter has not competed since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021
- McGregor is preparing for a return at the UFC White House event planned for June 14
- Dana White has ruled out a matchup between McGregor and Michael Chandler for the White House card
Sources: Sport Bible | The Independent | MMA Fighting
Conor McGregor has announced that his current UFC contract is void and he will enter negotiations with the promotion in February. The former two-weight champion made the claim during a live stream on Roblox, citing the UFC’s shift away from pay-per-view as the reason.
The UFC recently struck a $7.7 billion deal with Paramount to move its events to a subscription-based streaming platform. This marks the end of the promotion’s pay-per-view model under ESPN, which began with UFC 324 on Saturday.
“My contract essentially is void right now because there’s no more pay-per-view, whereas my contract was based on pay-per-view sales,” McGregor said during the stream. “I’m the highest-generating pay-per-view fighter of all time. The pay-per-view system is done, I’m due a new contract.”
McGregor stated that negotiations with the UFC are scheduled to begin in February. He said he is “very interested to see how it goes.”
‘I’m due a new contract’ – Conor McGregor makes UFC claim as new broadcast era begins https://t.co/qSe9AI3Cz2
— Irish Independent Sport (@IndoSport) January 19, 2026
White House Card Return Plans
The 37-year-old fighter also confirmed he is preparing for a potential return at the UFC’s planned White House event in June. “I’m warming up now for the White House fight,” McGregor said. “I’m gonna be at it, for sure.”
McGregor has not competed since July 2021, when he suffered a broken leg in his fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. He was scheduled to return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in summer 2024 but withdrew due to a toe injury.
UFC president Dana White has ruled out a matchup between McGregor and Chandler for the White House card. “No, that was a couple years ago,” White said last week, adding that he would “not entertain” the fight.
McGregor currently cannot compete until April due to an 18-month anti-doping suspension for multiple whereabouts failures. The suspension was announced in October and is backdated to September 2023.
First UFC/Paramount FIGHT WEEK! 🔥 #UFC324 pic.twitter.com/SqiLzglnJC
— DiaztwinsMMA (@DiaztwinsMMA) January 19, 2026
Record Pay-Per-View Sales
McGregor pointed to his track record of generating massive pay-per-view numbers as justification for a new contract. His UFC 229 bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov drew 2.4 million pay-per-view buys, making it one of the highest-selling events in UFC history.
“The company has 4xed its profit,” McGregor said, referring to the UFC’s growth since his last fight. He emphasized that his previous contract structure was built around earning points from pay-per-view sales.
It remains unclear whether the change in broadcast rights legally affects McGregor’s existing contract, which reportedly has two fights remaining on it. The UFC has not publicly commented on McGregor’s claims about his contract status.
White has faced questions about fighter pay since announcing the Paramount deal. In September, he stated that UFC fighter pay would increase but did not provide specific numbers or percentages.
McGregor said he is currently focused on training and preparation. “I’m living in the gym, focusing on my health, focusing on my rest, listening to my coaches, following the game plan,” he said during the stream.
The UFC White House card is expected to take place on June 14. White has said he will begin booking fights for the event after UFC 324 concludes.
