Eddie Alvarez believes UFC will not release Conor McGregor

Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez believes that Conor McGregor will find it hard to get out of his UFC contract.

McGregor has spoken at length about his desire to fight in the BKFC before he retires, and has recently teased a boxing exhibition against Logan Paul as well.

However, Alvarez – who had a drawn-out contract dispute with Bellator earlier in his career – does not believe McGregor getting out of his UFC commitments will be so easy.

“Realistically, I think he still has two fights left on his UFC contract,” Alvarez said.

“I just know how difficult it is, especially when you’re that valuable to a company.

“I haven’t been as valuable as Conor, but back when I was basically Bellator’s main guy, I know how difficult it is to get out of those contracts.

“They don’t make it easy.

“For him, making the company hundreds of millions of dollars, I don’t think it’s going to be an easy exit.

“I’m not sure how old Conor is, but he’s not getting any younger.

“So it’s going to be tough for him to fight those fights out and move onto another contract.

“Realistically, I don’t know if he could fight BKFC, and if he does, it’ll be maybe when he’s older.”

Despite doubt over whether McGregor will be able to fight or not, some of the top bookmakers are offering early boxing betting odds for his potential opponents.

A clash against Logan Paul puts the Irishman as a $2.10 underdog, while stepping into the ring with younger brother Jake would have McGregor at longer odds of $3.40 to win.

Speaking earlier this week, retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown weighed in on McGregor’s future, claiming that he is most likely to make his return in boxing.

“There’s so much money to be made doing a Logan Paul fight,” he said.

“Of course, he would do that.

“He doesn’t have to come back and fight a f***ing Islam [Makhachev] or something or Dustin Poirier or [Nate] Diaz or anything.

“He just going and boxing a guy who is not a pro boxer.

“Does he fight in the UFC? I think that’s a clear no.”

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