Conor McGregor missing, and UFC 200 betting action will suffer

By picking a fight with his employer, Conor McGregor lost a big payday and put himself in a no-win situation. He also hurt the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Las Vegas sports books in the process.

McGregor announced his surprise retirement — sort of — via Twitter on April 20. A day later, the polarizing Irishman said he was not retired and was ready to rumble.

But it was too late. McGregor was pulled from the UFC 200 card on July 9, and his rematch with Nate Diaz was off. In an upset, Diaz submitted McGregor in the second round of the UFC 196 main event on March 5.

McGregor has become the most popular fighter in mixed martial arts due to being dominant, outspoken, loved and hated. The first loss of his UFC career was not going to diminish his appeal.

“It’s a record-breaking MMA handle every time McGregor fights,” said Matthew Holt, vice president of CG Technology sports books. “We did seven-figure handles on both of his last two fights.”

After refusing to fly to Las Vegas to promote UFC 200, McGregor’s subsequent retirement announcement was perceived as a negotiating ploy and a pursuit of more money. UFC president Dana White did not flinch.

The hyped event at T-Mobile Arena, which opened in April, now becomes much more difficult for the UFC to pump up. McGregor and former women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, the organization’s top two attractions, will be absent.

In the new main event, Daniel Cormier is set to face Jon Jones in a light heavyweight championship rematch. Jones, who defeated Cormier by unanimous decision at UFC 182 in January 2015, is a minus-350 favorite.

Diaz-McGregor in UFC 200 would have produced a much bigger wagering handle for the sports books. McGregor was a minus-130 favorite before the fight was taken off the board.

“We could have done as much as $2 million in handle on that card,” Holt said. “It will be less than half of that with McGregor off, because he’s so popular. I don’t think there’s any way we handle $1 million now. But it’s not just McGregor. It’s no McGregor and no Rousey.”

The betting handle on UFC events has surged in recent years, but with McGregor missing in action, that growth is temporarily stunted.

Contact sports betting reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow on Twitter: @mattyoumans247