Conor McGregor LAS VEGAS, NV – AUGUST 20: Conor McGregor waits for the start of his welterweight rematch against Nate Diaz at the UFC 202 event at T-Mobile Arena on August 20, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor won by majority decision. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

It seems like we have been hearing hypothetical discussions about a fight between boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and UFC fighter Conor McGregor. For a while it’s been all talk, but McGregor and the UFC are apparently ready to allow for the possibility if a deal can be reached with Mayweather.

McGregor announced on his website he has signed a contract with UFC to allow him to pursue a deal to fight Mayweather. This would be the first hurdle cleared in formally organizing a fight that has been widely discussed in the fighting and boxing worlds, one that has been long been suspected to be nothing more than hype. With a deal to allow the UFC fighter to pursue a deal, it appears McGregor is putting his cards on the table in hopes Mayweather follows through on his end of the negotiations.

“It is an honour to sign this record breaking deal alongside my partners Zuffa LLC, The Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Paradigm Sports Management,” McGregor said. “The first, and most important part of this historic contract has now officially been signed off on. Congratulations to all parties involved. We now await Al Haymon and his boxer’s signature in the coming days.”

It is expected a boxing match between Mayweather and McGregor would be a huge pay-per-view draw. Mayweather would have to come out of retirement to fight McGregor, but it just so happens he has said before the only way he would do so is to fight McGregor in the hyped match.

The mere possibility of the match between Mayweather and McGregor being on the table is enough of a marketing win for Dana White and the UFC. It’s almost a win-win at this point, as a UFC icon is showing no fear of facing one of boxing’s top stars. If Mayweather follows through with his coming-out-of-retirement statement, McGregor carries the UFC banner in one of the most hyped fights in a long time. And if Mayweather doesn’t follow through, the UFC gets a nice boost in being able to say they have the most feared fighters in the game. It would be a major victory for the MMA world against the fading boxing industry.

It could also take a long time to work out the negotiations to appease all parties involved, and if it takes too long, then Mayweather may end up becoming too old to for the match to hold any interest. Remember how long it took to put together Mayweather-Pacquiao?

Ok Mayweather. The ball is now in your court.

[Los Angeles Times]

About Kevin McGuire

Contributor to Athlon Sports and The Comeback. Previously contributed to NBCSports.com. Host of the Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast. FWAA member and Philadelphia-area resident.