Conor McGregor missing from UFC’s top-selling fighters in 2024 – Max Holloway and Sean O’Malley beat Jon Jones
Conor McGregor did not make the UFC’s top five best-selling fighters in 2024. Max Holloway and Sean O’Malley both secured spots in the top five, out-selling UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. PAMcGregor’s UFC return was further complicated after his sexual assault trail[/caption] McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC since breaking his leg at UFC 264 in 2021 against Dustin Poirier, who also made the top five. The Irishman was due to make his highly anticipated comeback in June against Michael Chandler in the main event of UFC 303. But their fight never came into fruition after McGregor injured his pinky toe. His return to the octagon was made more complicated after being found liable for sexual assault in a civil case brought by Nikita Hand. McGregor was dropped from several companies following the trial and the claimant, Ms Hand, was awarded nearly €250,000 (£208,000) in damages. UFC President White broke his silence on McGregor’s future in December, stating, ‘if he does fight, it will be sometime next year.’ However, this now seems increasingly unlikely, especially with McGregor’s announcement that he will fight Logan Paul in a boxing match in India. The 36-year-old fuelled speculation further by posting an Indian flag and heart emoji on Sunday night in response to a journalist’s claim that he had agreed to a $500million fight with Paul at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Nonetheless, the former two-division UFC champion, once the organisation’s hottest-selling fighter, is now far removed from being one of their top draws. MMA’s biggest league released its top five highest-selling fighters on Friday, based on merchandise sales on the UFC store. Jones retained his heavyweight title against the now-retired Miocic at UFC 309GETTY 5. Jon Jones Jones reminded fans why he’s one of the greatest fighters of all time in his one and only fight in 2024. ‘Bones’ defended his heavyweight title for the first time against Stipe Miocic in UFC 309’s main event, rolling back the years to win the bout via a devastating spinning back kick. The 37-year-old had picked up the heavyweight strap in March 2023 by submitting Ciryl Gane on his return to MMA after an injury-ridden, three-year hiatus. During this time, Britain’s Tom Aspinall had cemented his status as a top heavyweight contender and he is now the division’s interim champion. The pair are set to meet in a blockbuster clash in 2025 to unify the division in what could be the UFC’s biggest-ever heavyweight clash. 4. Sean O’Malley O’Malley has remained one of the UFC’s most popular fighters since his emergence through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017. O’Malley dropped his bantamweight belt to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 in Las VegasReuters His flashy striking and unique personality have created a character who is both loved and hated. ‘Suga’ headed into 2024 as the UFC’s bantamweight champion and successfully defended the belt against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in March. However, things turned sour quickly for the 29-year-old when Merab Dvalishvili entered the frame and dethroned him of his title at UFC 306 six months later. Dvalishvili remains the bantamweight champion and will make his first defence of the title at UFC 311 on January 19 against Arman Tsarukyan. 3. Dustin Poirier Dustin Poirier has shared the octagon with some of the UFC’s greatest-ever fighters: McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje and Islam Makhachev, to name a few. Poirier’s warrior spirit during his 13-year UFC career has solidified his legacy as one of White’s most respected fighters of all time time. Poirier put a solid fight against the P4P number one Makhachev at UFC 302Getty ‘The Diamond’ fought twice in 2024, brutally knocking out Benoit Saint Denis in March before losing his third shot at gold against lightweight champion Makhachev three months later at UFC 302. The 35-year-old has since teased a retirement fight following his unsuccessful title challenge, admitting he would love one last dance in his hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana. 2. Max Holloway If he hadn’t already, Holloway made sure to write his name in the UFC’s history books forever after knocking out Gaethje at UFC 300. The KO, with one second left on the clock in their five-round bout in April, was by far the most eye-catching moment for White’s promotion in 2024. Holloway, a former UFC featherweight champion, earned–what now looks to be his last chance at a title–a fight with Ilia Topuria in October after the spectacular knockout. ‘Blessed’ had never been finished in his 12-year, 29-fight UFC career going into the Topuria fight but was knocked out by the Spaniard in the third round of their main event bout at UFC 308. Holloway’s KO over Gaethje is one of the UFC’s most iconic moments of all timeGetty Nonetheless, the 33-year-old from Hawai
Conor McGregor did not make the UFC’s top five best-selling fighters in 2024.
Max Holloway and Sean O’Malley both secured spots in the top five, out-selling UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC since breaking his leg at UFC 264 in 2021 against Dustin Poirier, who also made the top five.
The Irishman was due to make his highly anticipated comeback in June against Michael Chandler in the main event of UFC 303.
But their fight never came into fruition after McGregor injured his pinky toe.
His return to the octagon was made more complicated after being found liable for sexual assault in a civil case brought by Nikita Hand.
McGregor was dropped from several companies following the trial and the claimant, Ms Hand, was awarded nearly €250,000 (£208,000) in damages.
UFC President White broke his silence on McGregor’s future in December, stating, ‘if he does fight, it will be sometime next year.’
However, this now seems increasingly unlikely, especially with McGregor’s announcement that he will fight Logan Paul in a boxing match in India.
The 36-year-old fuelled speculation further by posting an Indian flag and heart emoji on Sunday night in response to a journalist’s claim that he had agreed to a $500million fight with Paul at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Nonetheless, the former two-division UFC champion, once the organisation’s hottest-selling fighter, is now far removed from being one of their top draws.
MMA’s biggest league released its top five highest-selling fighters on Friday, based on merchandise sales on the UFC store.
5. Jon Jones
Jones reminded fans why he’s one of the greatest fighters of all time in his one and only fight in 2024.
‘Bones’ defended his heavyweight title for the first time against Stipe Miocic in UFC 309’s main event, rolling back the years to win the bout via a devastating spinning back kick.
The 37-year-old had picked up the heavyweight strap in March 2023 by submitting Ciryl Gane on his return to MMA after an injury-ridden, three-year hiatus.
During this time, Britain’s Tom Aspinall had cemented his status as a top heavyweight contender and he is now the division’s interim champion.
The pair are set to meet in a blockbuster clash in 2025 to unify the division in what could be the UFC’s biggest-ever heavyweight clash.
4. Sean O’Malley
O’Malley has remained one of the UFC’s most popular fighters since his emergence through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017.
His flashy striking and unique personality have created a character who is both loved and hated.
‘Suga’ headed into 2024 as the UFC’s bantamweight champion and successfully defended the belt against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in March.
However, things turned sour quickly for the 29-year-old when Merab Dvalishvili entered the frame and dethroned him of his title at UFC 306 six months later.
Dvalishvili remains the bantamweight champion and will make his first defence of the title at UFC 311 on January 19 against Arman Tsarukyan.
3. Dustin Poirier
Dustin Poirier has shared the octagon with some of the UFC’s greatest-ever fighters: McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje and Islam Makhachev, to name a few.
Poirier’s warrior spirit during his 13-year UFC career has solidified his legacy as one of White’s most respected fighters of all time time.
‘The Diamond’ fought twice in 2024, brutally knocking out Benoit Saint Denis in March before losing his third shot at gold against lightweight champion Makhachev three months later at UFC 302.
The 35-year-old has since teased a retirement fight following his unsuccessful title challenge, admitting he would love one last dance in his hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana.
2. Max Holloway
If he hadn’t already, Holloway made sure to write his name in the UFC’s history books forever after knocking out Gaethje at UFC 300.
The KO, with one second left on the clock in their five-round bout in April, was by far the most eye-catching moment for White’s promotion in 2024.
Holloway, a former UFC featherweight champion, earned–what now looks to be his last chance at a title–a fight with Ilia Topuria in October after the spectacular knockout.
‘Blessed’ had never been finished in his 12-year, 29-fight UFC career going into the Topuria fight but was knocked out by the Spaniard in the third round of their main event bout at UFC 308.
Nonetheless, the 33-year-old from Hawaii clearly remains one of UFC’s most popular fighters based on his merchandise sales.
Aside from that, Holloway will forever live up to his BMF (baddest m*****f***er) title as one of the hardest men on the planet.
1. Alex Pereira
Not much needs to be said about the rising popularity of Brazil’s MMA superstar Alex Pereira.
After all, Pereira single-handedly saved several UFC PPV cards in 2024 by defending his light heavyweight title a whopping three times.
‘Poatan’ has a dominant presence unlike any other fighter in the UFC, known for his terrifying one-punch knockout power and relentless aggression inside the octagon.
However, his aura of intimidation, often symbolised by his tribal face pain and walkout music, is matched by his calm demeanour outside the cage.
Pereira is a fan favourite, always interacting with supporters and cracking jokes in interviews, despite his fearsome reputation in MMA.
The 37-year-old even represents one of the most iconic phrases in modern UFC history: ‘Chama’—the viral one-word response he often gives to the media, which translates to ‘let’s go’ or ‘come on’ in a slang context.
So, it’s no surprise to see him as the UFC’s top-selling fighter in 2024.
