“How much is it to buy a League of Ireland team?” That was the question Conor McGregor threw out to the world in January 2025. Then, as if one wasn’t enough, he doubled down, “I might buy two.” But before we get into his soccer obsession and urge to extend his business ventures, let’s talk about what we already know. ‘The Notorious’ is loaded. And veteran comedian, Joey Diaz might just have the estimate. If you think McGregor loves talking about himself, turns out, he enjoys it even more when someone else does.
The former UFC double champ storied a clip from comedian Joey Diaz’s podcast The Church of What’s Happening Now on Instagram. The three-week-old clip saw Diaz let loose on McGregor’s wild Vegas presence. “Listen, when McGregor goes to Vegas, he doesn’t just sell tickets, he adds like 2 million dollars to the economy,” he said. “Not a lot of people do that. Michael Jackson could do that. Think about it, people flying in from fuc—g Ireland. He generates so much f—-ing cash, you cannot take that away from him.”
And he wasn’t done. Uncle Joey had more to say about McGregor’s over-the-top behavior. “He needs a handler,” Diaz added. “He needs like somebody that goes through guys, they gotta beat the f–k outta him. He’s crazy. He’s Irish. He drinks that fire water, that sets him off. And he puts that sh-t in his nose. That’s it, look at him. He is turning purple. His veins are getting bigger. He shows up every Saturday. If there’s a fight, he shows up at the weirdest places, takes his shirt off, starts bartending, and s–t. I gotta give it to him, he’s an animal.”
And Diaz isn’t just pulling numbers out of thin air. McGregor’s impact on Vegas is well-documented. The iconic yet infamous UFC 229, where he fought Khabib Nurmagomedov, generated a record-breaking $86.4 million for the Las Vegas economy. Moreover, this translated to $17.2 million in salaries and wages, and 414 jobs for the fateful night of 6 October 2018.
“During the build-up to UFC 229, I said it was going to be the biggest event in UFC’s history, and now we have all the numbers to prove it,” Dana White stated. “Khabib vs. McGregor smashed our records for Pay-Per-Views, social media impressions, and global viewership, and now we know it set records for economic impact here in Las Vegas.”
MMA: UFC 194-Aldo vs McGregor December 12, 2015, Las Vegas, NV, USA Conor McGregor exits the octagon following his championship victory against Jose Aldo during UFC 194 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena NV USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: Gary.xVasquezx 8994171
His UFC 246 return against Donald Cerrone? Another massive financial win for the city! But it’s not just ticket sales. The Irishman is a walking, talking money machine. His presence in Sin City drives up hotel rates, with suites at Red Rock Casino reportedly shooting up to $6,000 per night during his fight weeks in 2021. High rollers? They follow him. Casinos and bars? They stock up, maybe not his Proper No. Twelve, but they still do.
As Nick Palazzolo, Director of Player Development for Caesars Entertainment, put it back in 2021, “It’s Super Bowl weekend every time Conor McGregor comes to Las Vegas.” That level of demand doesn’t just impact fight night. It spills into every corner of the city looking to cash in on the McGregor effect. Additionally, McGregor’s impact on Vegas extends beyond just the dollar bills. Veteran UFC referee Marc Goddard once talked about the Irishman’s clash with Chad Mendes at UFC 189 in Sin City and how the MGM Grand Garden arena was fully loaded.
“It was eleven or twelve thousand trying to turn up to the weigh-in. If you weren’t here, you wouldn’t know… The police and fire departments, they didn’t know what to do. They literally did not know what to do. It was a f—ing shutdown.”
With all this talk, you’d expect McGregor to be prepping for another big fight, right? Well, maybe. Or maybe not. Because as much as he loves the fight game, he loves the headlines just as much.
Where’s Conor McGregor headed now?
The man who once declared he’d fight at UFC 303? Pulled out. Teased a move to welterweight? Never happened. Now, the latest rumor swirling is BKFC. Yes, bare-knuckle fighting. Could we actually see McGregor swap his UFC gloves for some bare-knuckle chaos?
And if history has taught us anything, it’s this, he loves making noise. He’s been doing it for years, calling out fighters, hinting at comebacks, and then leaving fans in suspense. Right now, he still has two fights left on his UFC contract. Will Dana White let his ex-superstar walk off that easily?
But while his fight future remains uncertain, McGregor has found another arena to conquer, football. And not just playing it. Weeks ago, he made headlines for a crunching tackle in a match for his pub’s team, Black Forge FC. Some called it reckless, others called it peak McGregor. But when he’s on the pitch, he’s just as intense as he was in the Octagon.
Then came the latest twist. Black Forge FC staged a dramatic comeback win and McGregor? He made sure the night didn’t end there. “OMG THE GAF IS HOPPING TONIGHT FREE BAR FOR THE WHOLE SQUAD ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT @theblackforgeinn,” he posted on Instagram. Classic McGregor.
And just when you thought it was all fun and games, he hit us with that bombshell question, “I might buy two.” Yeah, two leagues. Because if you did forget, “I make so much money you can swim in it,” is what the Irishman deeply believes in.
So, what’s next for Conor McGregor? A UFC return? A BKFC debut? Football club ownership? Maybe all of the above. Maybe none. That’s the magic of McGregor. He keeps us guessing. But he keeps us talking. And he keeps the cash flowing, whether it’s in fight purses, whiskey sales, or Vegas economy boosts. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
The post “He’s an Animal” – After Conor McGregor Adds Millions to Vegas Economy, Joey Diaz Provides Unique Take on UFC Star appeared first on EssentiallySports.
