Difference is, NFL players make millions sitting on the bench and have made massive cheddar for ages. Conor is the first homegrown UFC fighter to make top grade NBA/NFL level money, where as almost all other fighters are averaging 10k still. This sport needed someone to break thru to next tier payment, and as a result, it will probably be his greatest achievement, just as Floyd and Oscar reshaped the pay grade in boxing. Before, the only way a homegrown fighter thought he could make retirement money was by being GOAT level and defending the title umpteen times, like GSP. A guy like Big Rigg is now fighting bareknuckle boxing and foreclosing his restaurant.