Here. We. Go.
After years of speculation, rumors and social-media jabs, two of the world's foremost fighters will finally be stepping into the ring to face each other.
UFC star Conor McGregor will fight former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a boxing match on Aug. 26 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Both fighters made it official on social media, with McGregor already taking the early trash-talking lead by posting a side-by-side picture of himself and Mayweather's ... father.
IT'S OFFICIAL!!! https://t.co/ND07Ixugs2 pic.twitter.com/JpqFW5WbcB
— Floyd Mayweather (@FloydMayweather) June 14, 2017
THE FIGHT IS ON. pic.twitter.com/KhW0u3jRft
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 14, 2017
Following Wednesday's shocking announcement, the sports world immediately exploded with excitement, outrage and surprise.
UFC president Dana White and fellow fighters were quick to express their thoughts about McGregor's quick rise through the sport and his chances against Mayweather, who is heavily favored.
😃
— Dana White (@danawhite) June 14, 2017
.@TheNotoriousMMA congrats this will be your biggest pay day ever.Make sure you say,"Thank you" to @FloydMayweather & @UFC #TheMoneyFight
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) June 14, 2017
CONTEST : If Conor Mcgregor KO's Floyd Mayweather on August 26th, I'll follow 1000 Random users who retweet this!#VanillaGorillaContest pic.twitter.com/29odSu7tS1
— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) June 14, 2017
My best case scenario for #MayweatherMcGregor : Floyd smacks Connor around for 3 rds, Connor starts throwing kicks, riot ensues. 🔥🔥🔥
— caleb truax (@GoldenCalebT) June 14, 2017
Floyd doing it because he's bored and Connor is getting his largest payout. We know who's gonna win the fight cut it out ...
— Suzy (@Sua_Cravens) June 14, 2017
Boom! Excited for this! https://t.co/iNjhIvqV33
— Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) June 14, 2017
Conor cracks Mayweather with that left, Mayweather goes down, doesn't get back up...
— Cathal Pendred (@Pendred) June 14, 2017
The most incredible accomplishment by any athlete ever?
Congrats @FloydMayweather & @TheNotoriousMMA On The Big Money Fight🥊Time To Give Up My Belt #DefendOrVacate Let A Real Champ Defend It
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) June 15, 2017
Hey @PaulMalignaggi talk to @FloydMayweather and his people. I've already let the @ufc know I'm down to scrap
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) June 15, 2017
@TheNotoriousMMA congrats man
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) June 15, 2017
It saddens me that if you reached the pinnacle of our sport the only way to make money is to switch over to boxing. #connormcgregor #mma
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) June 15, 2017
@TheNotoriousMMA you manifested it all and executed. Congratulations on everything.
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) June 15, 2017
Best case scenario money wise for Money Mayweather is if McGregor/Mayweather turns into a trilogy. Just sayin... pic.twitter.com/5CZiPOu55w
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) June 14, 2017
Twelve rounds of defensive boxing with Connor throwing hard and missing a lot. The build up will be fun though! https://t.co/UpXY55x3OH
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) June 14, 2017
Hey @anthonyfjoshua let's have a proper tussle and still have time for tea and crumpets before the main event! #MayweatherMcGregor
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) June 14, 2017
Celebrities and media members also weighed in on the upcoming fight.
If you pay for #MayweatherMcGregor please take the time to do it in pennies at least you get the moral victory of making them do some work pic.twitter.com/SmYkbbk6ve
— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) June 14, 2017
I want to fight on Mayweather-McGregor undercard
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) June 14, 2017
4 years ago, Conor McGregor picked up a welfare check of $235.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 14, 2017
He'll likely walk away with $100,000,000+ from Mayweather fight.
I know it won't be a great fight. I know it's a joke. I know I will regret it. But I'm in. #MayweatherMcGregor
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) June 14, 2017
I will pick the undefeated all-time great boxer over the guy who has zero professional boxing matches
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) June 14, 2017
If you thought Mayweather-Pacquiao was a waste of time, boy do I have a fight for you.
— Jeremy Schaap (@JeremySchaap) June 14, 2017
THIS IS THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!!! 🗣🎤 FINALLY 👊 #ITSTIME AUGUST 26th!!! 👊#UFC #BOXING #BUFFLIFE 😎 pic.twitter.com/EIFtZVeSC9
— Bruce Buffer (@brucebuffer) June 15, 2017
UFC president Dana White said the megafight, which will air on Showtime PPV, will be at 154 pounds.
A two-division UFC champion, McGregor (21-3 in MMA), 28, will be making his professional boxing debut. The 40-year-old Mayweather (49-0, 26 KOs) last fought in September 2015, when he beat Andre Berto to retain his welterweight world title.
--Isaac Chipps