To me the issue comes down pretty simply to this: By asking to be exempt from media obligations that Nate was also subject to, Conor is asking for an unfair advantage over his opponent and was therefore rightfully denied.
Now, if both Nate and Conor decided to mutually boycott "the man"'s press obligations, that would be a different story. It's a real problem that there is no "player's association" or "union" to represent fighter's and campaign for better treatment and a redress of their grievances. But that's a separate issue.
Regardless of the advantage, you have to promote the fight. He is the face of the organization and the highest paid fighter. Like it or not, but that's the obligation of a prize fighter. The fight is 3 months away. It's not like this is in the middle of his training camp. I usually take the fighter's side in cases where Zuffa makes a power move but I think the UFC is right in this case. You can't just show up to fight, especially when your name is Conor McGregor.
I'm not surprised, motherfukers 
Massive Conor fan and I see his point of view but you can't use the media to make yourself the biggest star in the sport and then suddenly expect to be able to get out of media obligations and promotion.
This is a situation of his own making.
He needs to deal with it.
He can promote the show without the ridiculous roadshow that Dana has planned. And if he says he needs a break from it, why do we think he's full of it?
But please, stop spinning this as him looking for an advantage. That's just pathetic.
dermotfix - He can promote the show without the ridiculous roadshow that Dana has planned. And if he says he needs a break from it, why do we think he's full of it?
But please, stop spinning this as him looking for an advantage. That's just pathetic.
whatever his motivation, him asking to be exempt from something that takes away from fight prep, while Nate is not exempt, is most certainly looking for an advantage.
FatBuddha -dermotfix - He can promote the show without the ridiculous roadshow that Dana has planned. And if he says he needs a break from it, why do we think he's full of it?
But please, stop spinning this as him looking for an advantage. That's just pathetic.
whatever his motivation, him asking to be exempt from something that takes away from fight prep, while Nate is not exempt, is most certainly looking for an advantage.
Strongly disagree.
Nate can ask for the same.
And McGregor has more than fulfilled his promotional obligations.
Nobody is asking Nate to be on the radio/TV -that's all left to McGregor.
I think he's realized how carried away the media tour can be. He's done it before. While I understand the OP, I feel that Conor should be allowed to step back if he thinks its messing with his camp and fighting
dermotfix -Nate is also not getting paid anywhere near what Conor gets paid. You can't have it both ways.FatBuddha -dermotfix - He can promote the show without the ridiculous roadshow that Dana has planned. And if he says he needs a break from it, why do we think he's full of it?
But please, stop spinning this as him looking for an advantage. That's just pathetic.
whatever his motivation, him asking to be exempt from something that takes away from fight prep, while Nate is not exempt, is most certainly looking for an advantage.
Strongly disagree.
Nate can ask for the same.
And McGregor has more than fulfilled his promotional obligations.
Nobody is asking Nate to be on the radio/TV -that's all left to McGregor.
judonoob -dermotfix -Nate is also not getting paid anywhere near what Conor gets paid. You can't have it both ways.FatBuddha -dermotfix - He can promote the show without the ridiculous roadshow that Dana has planned. And if he says he needs a break from it, why do we think he's full of it?
But please, stop spinning this as him looking for an advantage. That's just pathetic.
whatever his motivation, him asking to be exempt from something that takes away from fight prep, while Nate is not exempt, is most certainly looking for an advantage.
Strongly disagree.
Nate can ask for the same.
And McGregor has more than fulfilled his promotional obligations.
Nobody is asking Nate to be on the radio/TV -that's all left to McGregor.
Nate isn't bringing in the $$$$ the UFC makes, you can kinda have it both ways.
Nate has him shook. If there was a training facility north of Iceland he would go hide...errr.....train there. Not leaving for anything either.
Let Nate go to the press conference. He has uhm.... stuff to do. Its all totally fair.
Shy Guy -This well said.
Regardless of the advantage, you have to promote the fight. He is the face of the organization and the highest paid fighter. Like it or not, but that's the obligation of a prize fighter. The fight is 3 months away. It's not like this is in the middle of his training camp. I usually take the fighter's side in cases where Zuffa makes a power move but I think the UFC is right in this case. You can't just show up to fight, especially when your name is Conor McGregor.
well shilled
Shy Guy -
Regardless of the advantage, you have to promote the fight. He is the face of the organization and the highest paid fighter. Like it or not, but that's the obligation of a prize fighter. The fight is 3 months away. It's not like this is in the middle of his training camp. I usually take the fighter's side in cases where Zuffa makes a power move but I think the UFC is right in this case. You can't just show up to fight, especially when your name is Conor McGregor.
Actually he is in camp now, that's part of the issue.
And this is not surprising as GSP, Nick Diaz, and others have bitched about how the UFC makes the media obligations such a priority to where it disrupts how they train. Conor is just being stubborn about it so people are paying attention again. If anything it highlights that for the UFC there has to be a better balance. I am pro Conor here as no matter what, the company goes and stays profitable. Fighters however have to do what they have to in order to fight at max and the company is always looking for a reason to cut you. Gotta look out for #1.
Hunter V -Shy Guy -
Regardless of the advantage, you have to promote the fight. He is the face of the organization and the highest paid fighter. Like it or not, but that's the obligation of a prize fighter. The fight is 3 months away. It's not like this is in the middle of his training camp. I usually take the fighter's side in cases where Zuffa makes a power move but I think the UFC is right in this case. You can't just show up to fight, especially when your name is Conor McGregor.
Actually he is in camp now, that's part of the issue.
And this is not surprising as GSP, Nick Diaz, and others have bitched about how the UFC makes the media obligations such a priority to where it disrupts how they train. Conor is just being stubborn about it so people are paying attention again. If anything it highlights that for the UFC there has to be a better balance. I am pro Conor here as no matter what, the company goes and stays profitable. Fighters however have to do what they have to in order to fight at max and the company is always looking for a reason to cut you. Gotta look out for #1.
Is it really that hard to be flown in a private jet with all your teamates and your gear for a 1-2 day event?
That Press Conference is for the opening of tickets sales. Its literally to promote the tickets for the event. Plus he has the promos of the event to shoot. And he can't disrupt his Iceland getaway for 2 days for any of it really?
Is that what's going to prevent him from getting slapped and surrendering AGAIN to Nate Diaz?
Maybe he is right to demand less press work. Maybe he isn't. I don't know. But this one wasn't the one to miss.
I don't like how he's suggesting he thinks Nate should have to do it instead, like it was an unfair advantage that he's had to do all the media stuff the last few fights?
2 out of his last 3 opponents didn't get to have camps (Mendes, then Diaz), which is a huge advantage for him.
Maybe they could trade and have Diaz do all of the press stuff and Connor could skip camp so it could more accurately reflect how it was.
Connor is an amazing fighter and a even bigger draw, which has been phenomenal or the sport and fighter pay, and its completely understandable for him to want to focus on his training (and flying from Iceland to Vegas, with the time shifts and travel time is a significant burden on his training schedule, regardless of if they fly everything over), but surely the media obligations aren't that surprising? Why not plan around them?
And asking to move the pressor (if its a big event with all the other fighters) is a monumental request, that's asking potentially hundreds of people between fans, entourage/coaches/fighters, press, UFC staff, etc to all change travel and hotel accommodations just for him. I don't think that was a reasonable request at all, considering the number of other people, the logistics, etc etc.
dermotfix - He can promote the show without the ridiculous roadshow that Dana has planned. And if he says he needs a break from it, why do we think he's full of it?Well than he needs a break from fighting, because it comes with the territory.
But please, stop spinning this as him looking for an advantage. That's just pathetic.
Thought the issue was that Conor wanted to be paid for the promotional stuff? Asked for more money and Dana said no so Conor said fuck ya.
This is the stuff you discuss in negotiations. Ultimatums mid-stride rarely works out.
I think that it's the UFC pulling their power play again. McGregor has pulled two cards together for them when his opponents have backed out. He was under NO obligation to fight Mendes or Diaz. He could've walked and told them to fuck off like Jon Jones did.
But he didn't. This kid has made a shit ton of money for Zuffa.
Now normally I would kind of side with Zuffa on this, it's a business and he knew what he had to do to promote the fight.
But this kid was asking for them to cut him a little slack this one time after a tough loss so that he can train correctly for Nate.
He is giving Nate a lot of respect here. He is saying that he needs to train and focus very very hard in order to even compete with Nate.
They should give him a break. The fight isn't till fucking July for Christ's sake.
They are fools over at Zuffa.