Conor McGregor’s apparel deal with Reebok expired, leaving the UFC fighter "free to sign with any other sports brand for his upcoming boxing match with Floyd Mayweather," according to Tony Connelly of THE DRUM. The 28-year-old mixed martial artist’s bout with Mayweather on Aug. 26 is "anticipated to be the most lucrative boxing match in history," with both fighters expected to earn in excess of $100M. Apparel sponsors will "play a part in the revenue generated and stand to gain unprecedented exposure," with pay-per-view figures forecast to surpass the record of 4.5 million viewers set by the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight in '15. It had been assumed that Reebok would represent the UFC lightweight champion given his endorsement deal with the brand, which was signed in '15. However, McGregor’s manager, Audie Attar, revealed the Irishman’s contract with Reebok has "run its course." Attar said, "He's currently a free agent with regard to athletic apparel. We're still in discussions with Reebok and other brands. We let a lot of our deals lapse, so there's a lot of open categories that we've been negotiating from different brands, including Reebok" (THE DRUM, 6/20).
