Conor McGregor has reignited his rivalry with boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez after questioning the Mexican fighter’s commercial numbers following his victory over Christian Mbilli in Riyadh. The former UFC two-division champion believes he remains a bigger attraction in combat sports and has promised to break his own pay-per-view records when he returns to the Octagon.

McGregor made the bold statement on social media on November 1, shortly after Canelo reclaimed the WBC super middleweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Mbilli on October 31. Rather than focusing on the Mexican boxer’s performance, the Irishman turned his attention towards the event’s viewership, attendance and gate revenue.

The 38-year-old also made a significant announcement about his future, describing his next UFC appearance as his final fight. McGregor suggested that he has not fully used his promotional abilities in recent appearances but intends to change that for his farewell outing.

“How many views did the Canelo fight get? How many in attendance? Gate?” McGregor wrote on X.

He continued by claiming that he could outperform every major combat sports attraction in terms of sales, even suggesting that he could surpass their combined numbers. The Irishman also promised to make a genuine promotional effort for his next appearance and challenge his previous commercial records.

Conor McGregor targets blockbuster farewell after UFC comeback setback

McGregor’s latest comments have brought renewed attention to his long-awaited UFC comeback. The former lightweight and featherweight champion has not enjoyed a straightforward return to competition after suffering a serious knee injury.

His July 2026 comeback against Max Holloway ended after just 69 seconds. McGregor suffered a knee injury during the contest, which involved damage to his ACL and meniscus, leaving his immediate fighting future uncertain.

The Irishman has since been recovering from surgery and is expected to remain away from competition for several more months. A return during International Fight Week in 2027 has been discussed as a possible target, although the UFC has not officially confirmed a date or opponent.

McGregor’s latest statement suggests that he views the remaining fight on his current UFC contract as a major opportunity to finish his career on a commercial high.

However, describing the next appearance as his final fight does not necessarily mean an official retirement announcement has been made. There is still no confirmed opponent, venue or date for the proposed farewell contest.

The former champion has previously demonstrated his ability to attract enormous audiences, particularly when a major rivalry or high-profile opponent is involved. His 2017 boxing showdown against Floyd Mayweather remains one of the biggest commercial events in combat sports history.

Canelo Alvarez’s Riyadh victory sparks McGregor’s reaction

While McGregor discussed commercial records, Canelo had just completed an important night inside the boxing ring.

The Mexican superstar defeated Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 31. The judges scored the contest 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110 in Canelo’s favour.

The victory allowed the 36-year-old to reclaim the WBC super middleweight title and return to the championship picture after more than a year away from the ring.

Canelo had not competed since losing his undisputed super middleweight championship to Terence Crawford in September 2025. His victory over Mbilli was therefore an important response following that setback.

McGregor’s criticism, however, raised questions about the commercial performance of the Riyadh event. At the time of his comments, official attendance, gate revenue and overall viewership figures had not been publicly confirmed.

That distinction matters because comparing combat sports events requires more than looking at social media attention. Ticket revenue, pay-per-view purchases, streaming audiences and worldwide television viewership are different measurements.

Can McGregor really surpass Canelo’s commercial records?

McGregor has a strong argument when discussing his historical popularity. His rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov produced one of the biggest pay-per-view events in UFC history, while his boxing match against Mayweather in August 2017 generated approximately 4.3 million pay-per-view purchases in the United States.

Those achievements established McGregor as one of the most commercially successful fighters of his generation.

However, Canelo also possesses an impressive record as a global boxing attraction. His 2025 showdown against Crawford demonstrated the enormous audience that elite boxing contests can generate, while his long championship career has helped him build a worldwide following.

Comparing their numbers directly is complicated because UFC pay-per-view figures, boxing purchases and streaming audiences are not always calculated using the same methods.

McGregor’s latest comments are therefore best understood as a statement of confidence rather than proof that he has already surpassed Canelo’s commercial achievements.

For now, the biggest question remains whether the Irishman can return to full fitness and deliver the blockbuster farewell he is promising. His popularity is unlikely to disappear, but a successful comeback will depend on his recovery and the opponent eventually selected.

With McGregor talking about breaking records and Canelo back among the super middleweight champions, the combat sports world has plenty to discuss. Stay tuned to ROKOCRICKET for the latest UFC, boxing and international sports updates. Subscribe to stay updated with the biggest stories from the world of sports.