As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, UFC superstar Conor McGregor told TheMacLife.com that he has signed a contract to face Floyd Mayweather Jr in the boxing ring.
McGregor's signature represents the most significant step yet in the negotiations to make the so-called "Billion-Dollar Fight" a reality, after speculations first spread a year ago.
But now McGregor has gone even further, as the Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commision, Bob Bennett, confirms that the MMA fighter has officially submitted an application to obatin a license to box - as the contest will likely take place in Las Vegas.
“Conor McGregor has submitted an application to the Nevada State Athletic Commission for a boxing licence. We are currently awaiting additional documents from him in support of his application," Bennett told Boxing News.
The documents needed for McGregor to receive his license are related to medical exams and physical requirements. McGregor is expected to receive his license to box in the state. Last fall, he received his license to box in California.
“One of the critical things you have to take into account; Conor’s a phenomenal athlete,” Bennett said. “When you go back, he took up kickboxing at the age of 12. As a youth he became an All-Ireland boxing champion. He goes to the UFC, of course he had several [MMA] fights before that, and while he’s with the UFC he’s 21-3 with 17 of those wins coming via knockout or TKO.
“He’s a stand-up fighter, he’s a southpaw, he hits like a tonne of bricks, he’s got a great jaw, he’s 5’ 9’’ and he’s got a reach of 74 inches. If you take a look at his wins in the UFC, they’re predominantly from striking [punching] and if you take a look at the fact he was able to move from 145[lbs] to 155 to 170, he’s displayed some awesome unarmed combat skills.
“He’s proven that he can fight as a stand-up fighter. I’ve seen some tape of him boxing, I’m sure I’ll get an updated version of his skill-set as a fighter. I certainly think he’s worthy of being approved to fight Floyd Mayweather. His UFC background is critical in approving this fight.”
In a statement issued to TheMacLife.com, McGregor confirmed that his part of the deal has been sealed.
"It is an honor to sign this record-breaking deal alongside my partners Zuffa LLC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Paradigm Sports Management," McGregor said.
"The first and most important part of this historic contract has now officially been signed off on. Congratulations to all parties involved. We now await Al Haymon and his boxer's signature in the coming days."
UFC president Dana White said last weekend that he was hoping to tie up a deal with McGregor before advancing negotiations with Mayweather.
With McGregor's deal now officially in place, it's now up to Mayweather and his adviser, Haymon, to finalize what is expected to be one of the most lucrative events in sporting history.
Speculations intensified last November when McGregor won his second UFC title in Madison Square Garden, an historic fight which underlined the Irishman's status as the biggest MMA star.
Both McGregor and Mayweather have openly courted the match-up in the media in recent months.
Last March, Mayweather called on McGregor to sign a contract "if he really wants to fight."
UFC 205, which was headlined by McGregor's lightweight title victory over Eddie Alvarez, is understood to have sold in the region of 1.3 million pay-per-views and garnered a venue record live gate of $17.7 million – numbers which outperformed the top boxing events in 2016.
McGregor's last 4 fights, which all took place within a 12-month period, have consecutively broken the one-million pay-per-view benchmark, including UFC 202 which established a new UFC record buy-rate north of 1.7 million PPV purchases.