Rumors of this bout still carry on with some suggesting that McGregor can get out of his UFC contract by seeking protection of the Ali Act.
This is a clever argument but one which likely can not succeed.
If McGregor was to become a licenced professional boxer it is true he can go to Court and ask to have his Zuffa contract struck down as “coercive” under the Ali Act. The problem, however, lies in the limitations of the Ali Act itself.
The Ali Act does not allow ‘coercive’ contracts between professional boxers and promoters. Some standard Zuffa contract terms, if applied to professional boxing, would be considered coercive under the act.
While McGregor can make himself a professional ‘boxer’ he cannot make the UFC a professional boxing promoter. To have the benefit of the ‘coercive contract’ provisions a Court would need to conclude that the UFC is a “promoter” as defined by the Act which means they are the entity “primarily responsible for organizing, promoting, and producing a professional boxing match“. It is doubtful a court would reach this conclusion particularly since Zuffa contracts expressly set out that they are in the business of promoting “mixed martial arts” competitions and their promotional obligations are limited to “mixed martial arts contest(s)“.
Realistically the only way McGregor v. Mayweather happens is if the UFC clears the path. 
Cool. Always assumed that outcome, but thank you for outlining the analysis.
They could just do it in japan or russia, where anything goes. Hope to see this happen. 
Or Dana and Lorenzo come to a deal with Floyds team and they split revenue. I don't think the idea is for Conor to leave the UFC and get let go from his contract, no one believes that will happen.
The way it might go down is if the UFC is open to the idea of co-promotion, if they are I think it's very possible they come up with a deal. Were talking serious money and we all inow what the UFCs motives are.
Thacommish -Why are they scum fucks?sagemma - Or Dana and Lorenzo come to a deal with Floyds team and they split revenue. I don't think the idea is for Conor to leave the UFC and get let go from his contract, no one believes that will happen.
The way it might go down is if the UFC is open to the idea of co-promotion, if they are I think it's very possible they come up with a deal. Were talking serious money and we all inow what the UFCs motives are.Why the hell would you ever decide to split more money with those scum fucks?
Is there an athletic commission in the US that would sanction this?
ggddcc - Is there an athletic commission in the US that would sanction this?Roy Jones Jr was allowed to box an MMA fighter in Arizona. Colorado allowed a 68 year old rookie against a 24 year old. Dada5000 happened in Texas.
So the answer is yes
Southpaw'd - They could just do it in japan or russia, where anything goes. Hope to see this happen.Zuffa could still seek an injunction in Nevada and seek foreign enforcement. More importantly they could get damages and go after assets of the Defendants.
ErikMagraken -ggddcc - Is there an athletic commission in the US that would sanction this?Roy Jones Jr was allowed to box an MMA fighter in Arizona. Colorado allowed a 68 year old rookie against a 24 year old. Dada5000 happened in Texas.
So the answer is yes
Damn. Well I hope that MMA can one day be as huge and corrupt as boxing...
From what I've read, because they specify boxing by name in the contracts as prohibited without UFC consent or involvement, it can be interpreted to imply that they have the right and the ability to provide boxing promotion, whether they have previously or intend to do so in the future or not, at their discretion, in regards to their contracted athletes. If a judge were to agree that technically, because McGregor obtained a boxing licence, making him a professional boxer under the act, the UFC were the contracted promoter of a professional boxer, with the ability to promote a boxing match, they are therefore acting in that case as a boxing promotor, that would make them subject to the terms of the Ali act and subsequently void mcgregors contract due to the terms of that contract
ggddcc - Is there an athletic commission in the US that would sanction this?
If they were really fucking crooked. Any commission doing so might actually risk revoking their ABC membership.
You could also run it on a reservation, but the only facility that would even be remotely suitable would be the Mohegan Sun Casino, and the Mohegan Department of Athletic Regulation is actually part of the Association of Boxing Commissions. So it's unclear if even they would approve it.
Or they could just do the fight overseas in a place without a commission. Best I can tell, Ireland only has a commission overseeing amateur boxing, so it may be possible there.
newtotheinterweb - From what I've read, because they specify boxing by name in the contracts as prohibited without UFC consent or involvement, it can be interpreted to imply that they have the right and the ability to provide boxing promotion, whether they have previously or intend to do so in the future or not, at their discretion, in regards to their contracted athletes. If a judge were to agree that technically, because McGregor obtained a boxing licence, making him a professional boxer under the act, the UFC were the contracted promoter of a professional boxer, with the ability to promote a boxing match, they are therefore acting in that case as a boxing promotor, that would make them subject to the terms of the Ali act and subsequently void mcgregors contract due to the terms of that contract
Interesting.
If this fight doesn't happen in Vegas with UFC giving the green light, it doesn't happen at all imo
ErikMagraken -Neither guy is that dumb. Floyd may be down for only one more fight (although I doubt it), Conor damn sure wants to fight more. And end run like this would be a mistake for any sort of future in MMA.Southpaw'd - They could just do it in japan or russia, where anything goes. Hope to see this happen.Zuffa could still seek an injunction in Nevada and seek foreign enforcement. More importantly they could get damages and go after assets of the Defendants.
ggddcc - Is there an athletic commission in the US that would sanction this?Not a chance... Well actually Floyd does what he wants, so probably all of them, definitely Nevada.
Floyd vs Mcgruber in Japan
newtotheinterweb - From what I've read, because they specify boxing by name in the contracts as prohibited without UFC consent or involvement, it can be interpreted to imply that they have the right and the ability to provide boxing promotion, whether they have previously or intend to do so in the future or not, at their discretion, in regards to their contracted athletes. If a judge were to agree that technically, because McGregor obtained a boxing licence, making him a professional boxer under the act, the UFC were the contracted promoter of a professional boxer, with the ability to promote a boxing match, they are therefore acting in that case as a boxing promotor, that would make them subject to the terms of the Ali act and subsequently void mcgregors contract due to the terms of that contractIf this is true, then Conner will do it. He will make a massive boxing payday, keeping all the money.
At that point, what happens? Is his entire contract with the UFC void? If it is, I bet he goes to bellator or to some boxing style "no league" promotion. Probably one run by Al Haymon and Floyd. Even if this is objectively a poor move, he believes in his own star power, and I bet he takes this chance.
If the UFC still owns his next few MMA fights, then it becomes very interesting. Will the UFC punish him by putting a massive star on under cards and stripping his title? I bet they try to feed him to killer wrestlers and such. If he can still make 140 under the current rules, he might be able to withstand that.
He would be worth even more money in MMA after a Floyd fight, especially if he went to decision, so maybe business will carry on as usual.
newtotheinterweb - From what I've read, because they specify boxing by name in the contracts as prohibited without UFC consent or involvement, it can be interpreted to imply that they have the right and the ability to provide boxing promotion, whether they have previously or intend to do so in the future or not, at their discretion, in regards to their contracted athletes. If a judge were to agree that technically, because McGregor obtained a boxing licence, making him a professional boxer under the act, the UFC were the contracted promoter of a professional boxer, with the ability to promote a boxing match, they are therefore acting in that case as a boxing promotor, that would make them subject to the terms of the Ali act and subsequently void mcgregors contract due to the terms of that contractThat's indeed the potential argument but it is a long shot for a judge to agree that the UFC is a boxing promoter as defined by the statute. On the face of it they don't meet the definition.
Couldn't McGregor argue that since Zuffa is not a boxing promotion that they have no contractual rights over an athlete as it pertains to a boxing event?
How many fights are on Conor's contract?