Floyd Mayweather, left, and Conor McGregor joke around at the post fight press conference on Saturday, Aug 26, 2017, at T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
Floyd Mayweather, left, and Conor McGregor salute the crowd at the post fight press conference on Saturday, Aug 26, 2017, at T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto
Conor McGregor, left, takes a punch at Floyd Mayweather Jr. during the first round of their fight at T-Mobile Arena, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, blocks a shot from Conor McGregor during the first round of their fight at T-Mobile Arena, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, leans to avoid a punch by Conor McGregor during the first round of their fight at T-Mobile Arena, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Conor McGregor takes a swing at Floyd Mayweather Jr. during the first round of their fight at T-Mobile Arena, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Conor McGregor, left, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. during the first round of their fight at T-Mobile Arena, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Conor McGregor takes a swing at Floyd Mayweather Jr. during the first round of their fight at T-Mobile Arena, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Floyd Mayweather Jr. blocks a punch from Conor McGregor during the first round of their fight at T-Mobile Arena, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, hugs his father, Floyd Mayweather, before his fight against Conor McGregor at T-Mobile Arena, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Floyd Mayweather Jr. enters the ring before his fight against Conor McGregor at T-Mobile Arena, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Floyd Mayweather Jr. after defeating Conor McGregor in their super welterweight fight at T-Mobile Arena, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. Mayweather won via 10th round technical knockout. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal
Floyd Mayweather, right, celebrates with referee Robert Byrd after his TKO victory over Conor McGregor on Saturday, Aug 26, 2017, at T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto
With Showtime being near a final tally, the premium cable company said Friday that Mayweather’s technical knockout over UFC superstar Conor McGregor last Saturday at T-Mobile Arena drew more than 4 million buys. The number is currently around the 4.4 million range, but is projected to be closer to 4.8 million when the counting is complete next week, according to Showtime.
The current record stands at 4.6 million buys for Mayweather’s victory over Manny Pacquiao in 2015 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“It was a massive event we had to put together very, very quickly,” Showtime executive vice president Stephen Espinoza said. “Working together with all the partners on the event, we were able to pull off a nearly flawless event, and the fight itself turned out to be very entertaining.
“So all in all, from a financial standpoint and an entertainment standpoint, it was absolutely a success.”
UFC president Dana White said this week the number would be around 6.5 million PPV buys. He might have been including international numbers.
A Showtime official said all the numbers are from domestic buys in the U.S. and Canada.
