Well, now apparently GSP will fight the winner of Woodley vs Maia for his comeback fight.
UFC would not have helped Conor broker this deal if UFC and Conor didn't come to terms with defending the belt. Conor ain't gonna see anything over 50 million in his pocket, and very likely less than that.
I can see going against the Fertittas and trying to make your own deal, but going against the people who literally control every aspect of Hollywood promotion and decide who is a celebrity and who isn't?
That was never going to happen. WME had the gun to Conor's head more than UFC brand itself.
WME provides A list party access, A list celebrity and fame, A list connections. They are so huge and so massive of a talent agency with so much reach, that they call the shots on who is an A lister. You can bet the WME honcho explained 2 very different futures to Conor during the meetings. It wasn't Dana White with the "do you want to be a fucking fighter" routine, or Lorenzo with the "This company has done a lot for you, we've spent a lot on your marketing".
If you want to keep your fame you aren't pissing those guys off. Its not about movies-- WME controls celebrity itself.
from here“I came in like, ‘C’mon, guys, let’s calm it down,’ and as soon (as I did that) ‘Cyborg’ just stops screaming at Magana, looks at me and says, ‘Don’t touch me.’
“I was like, ‘Alright, I’m good!’”
“So I backed up and then within a second (Cyborg) takes her hand and cracks Magana. Magana did a little shaky leg thing and right away she got teary-eyed. At least from what I heard, right away she started to say, ‘I’m calling the cops’.
“The best part of it is, Dana White has the video. He showed me at this thing (we did), but I don’t know if he’s ever going to release it. It is hysterical the way I backtracked.
“They were busting my balls but I have no shame. What am I going to do, step in there to Cyborg and say, ‘No, I will touch you’ and she kicks my ass? What am I gonna do kick her ass? Either way, I’m screwed.
“What if she knocked me out? I may as well just retire then.”