Conor McGregor has added more fuel to rumours of a money-spinning fight with YouTuber-turned-boxer Logan Paul.
The former dual-weight UFC champion hasn’t competed in his primary sport, MMA, since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
He was due to make his comeback in June against Michael Chandler in the main event of UFC 303.
However, their fight was cancelled after McGregor pulled out of the bout with a broken toe.
His return to the Octagon was then further complicated by being found guilty of sexual assault in a civil case brought by Nikita Hand.
The claimant was awarded nearly €250,000 (£208,000) in damages, while McGregor was dropped from several companies.
He remains in contract with the UFC for another two fights but with no progress being made towards his next fight for MMA’s premier promotion, McGregor is exploring the possibility of a lucrative crossover boxing bout with Paul.
“The rumors of a bout with [Ilia] Topurio are false,” McGregor said on X earlier this month.
“I am in preliminary agreements with the Ambani family to face Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India.
“I have agreed. I will then seek my return to the Octagon.”
McGregor has now stoked the flames further by posting an Indian flag and heart emoji on Sunday night in response to an article claiming he had agreed a $500m fight with Paul at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
The report from Fight Book MMA claims both men will earn $250m, courtesy of India’s Ambani family, which would mark the highest overall purse in boxing history.
McGregor hasn’t stepped foot in the squared circle since his mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
That night, he and the five-weight world champion earned $410m between them, with Mayweather pocketing the lion’s share of the money, $280m, and McGregor banking $130m.
At the time, it was the highest amount of money ever put up for a fight, but if the report is to be believed, he could surpass that against Paul.
The WWE superstar has had a less prolific boxing career than his brother Jake Paul.
However, he has boxed Mayweather during his four-fight stint.
As a professional, he is 1-1 while his exhibition boxing record stands at 0-0-2.
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