The metaphorical hype train that is Conor McGregor vs. Floyd “Money” Mayweather is about to run everyone and their grandma over. We are all standing on the tracks and it is happening in slow motion and yet, no matter what you think about the fight, what side of the tracks you come from; you cannot avoid what is about to happen. Boxing purists, MMA aficionados, and even the most leveled headed consumers who know a money grab when they see one will be watching the August 26th super fight because you cannot stop the money that is about to go into McGregor and Mayweather’s respective bank accounts.
The absurdity of it all is baffling to those who love the sport of Boxing espeically. Boxing fans will shake their heads when people suggest Mayweather is too old to knockout McGregor. They know Floyd Mayweather’s hands are so much faster than Conor has ever experienced in any MMA fight that he may be able to pick the round and the time he floors the UFC’s only double champion. Boxing fans also know that this fact is not what will be sold to the paying public. And much like a high stakes political campaign, the propaganda blitz that is about to commence will be so wrought in hype that logical assumptions that this is such a mismatch it is not worth the price tag will quickly be forgotten about because the May/Mac promotional machine will begin their campaign by planting that seed of doubt. “What if” is going to be the mantra and probably be the close of every sports talk segment analyzing this spectacle.
Much like all of life, this is Pro Wrestling. This is entertainment. This is spectacle. This is salesmanship and suspension of disbelief. Masters of the craft understand that people will always believe what they want to hear. If you tell them something you know they will like, they will eat it up, lick the plate and ask for more. This is the main ingredient as to why Vince McMahon has been able to build an empire, Donald Trump won the presidency, and why everyone is going to watch McGregor vs. Mayweather. Boxing fans will be promises a dissection of MMA’s most notable superstar and a key battle in the war for the soul of combat sports will be won by the Sweet Science for once. MMA fans are going to get to see the sport reach it’s grandest stage, with a puncher’s chance hope that those stingy few who still deny it will realize that MMA is legit.
The rest of us are going to be sold on the celebrity, the pomp and circumstance, and of the “what if” factor. What if it is an actual memorable fight? What if Floyd loses? What if Conor says screw this and gives Floyd a switch kick? What if Floyd knocks out Conor and Nate Diaz runs into the ring and stands over Conor like Smokey did to D-Bo? Just like the money these two masters of hype will generate, the “what ifs” are endless. A global event like this brings in those of us who embrace the absurdity of course, but even the most pessimistic cannot avoid the temptation to watch because even the most pessimistic viewers are human and no human can stop the money.
@AlanMichaelShow