Cerrone (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Conor McGregor is still one of the biggest names in all of combat sports, but Donald Cerrone says the days of collecting massive checks through fighting the star are over.

For sometime, Cerrone campaigned for a bout with McGregor, but the match-up never finalized. As a result, today at UFC Ottawa, Cerrone will take on Al Iaquinta.

While speaking to the media this week, however, Cerrone was asked about fighting McGregor and the financial implications if it happens. The rugged lightweight contender had this to say (quote via MMA Junkie):

“I don’t know about this payday talk,” Cerrone said. “Everyone thinks you fight Conor, you get paid. We’re under contract, man. Now with the ESPN thing, the pay-per-view buys are already done. It’s not like we get – so it’s a big misconception. Conor might get paid. ‘Cowboy’ might get a little bump, but it’s not a $10 million night for me by any means.”

“I need to go get this belt,” Cerrone said. “That’s where the real money is. Aside from the money, I love it – fighting three, four times a year. I enjoy the training camp. I enjoy this. The whole process to me, I’m going to miss the (expletive) out of it when I’m done. Right now I’m in it, and I love it.”

Recently the UFC changed its pay-per-view model by moving PPV cards in the United States to the ESPN+ streaming service. It’s been reported that ESPN paid a licensing fee to acquire the PPV rights, but its not clear if or how the new model compensates fighters.