CONOR McGREGOR lashed out at the UFC again after insisting he was ‘held back’ from fighting for SEVEN months.
It came just days after Irishman explained he would return to the boxing ring to face Manny Pacquiao having been frozen out of the UFC picture.
Conor McGregor lashed out at the UFC again after insisting he was ‘held back’ from fighting for SEVEN monthsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
McGregor had posted direct messages with Dana White where he demanded fights in February, May and August with Justin Gaethje and veteran Diego Sanchez named opponents.
But he believes the UFC instead wanted him to be a potential replacement for International Fight Week in July – seven months after his win against Donald Cerrone.
Former heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier questioned why McGregor did not agree to stand in as a replacement for Khabib Nurmagomedov, who pulled out of fighting Tony Ferguson in May.
McGregor, 32, responded: “I asked for May you fat fool, what you saying?
“I fought in January and tried to go again but was purposely held back to be an alternate for a July fight.
“Wait 7 whole f***ing months and “maybe” I’d get to fight? Are you stupid? What are you saying mate? I asked for May vs ANYONE!
“I asked for all these fights on February the 13th!! Corona didn’t exist.
McGregor says he is boxing Manny Pacquiao in his next fight Credit: @TheNotoriousMMA
“May/Anyone! August,Dublin/Diego(Just fought that night) End Of year/rematch. 4 fights/1 year.
“I was held back to wait it out to be an alternate for a fight many months away. There’s no other way to see this.”
McGregor had initially planned to stay prepared to fill in for either Nurmagomedov, 31, or Ferguson, 36.
But White claimed he was offered the chance after champion Khabib was unable to travel to the US, with Gaethje, 31, instead going on to win the interim belt.
McGregor hit back: “While then thrown under the bus saying that I turned down a fight with Tony after khabib had bottled it.
“Lol at that one. The deciphering abilities of people in this business absolutely baffles me!
“It’s clear as f***ing day!”
White claimed McGregor broke the ‘man code’ by releasing private messages.
But The Notorious believes he was wronged first after the promoted said he backed out of replacing Nurmagomedov.
White then went on to say he had ‘no idea’ about McGregor boxing Pacquiao, 41, in the Middle East.
McGregor responded: “You have been involved in Manny talks the legal letters are there. Stop lying.”
It is understood the UFC are on board with the former two-division champion facing Pacquiao in either December or January.
They then hope he can return to the Octagon to face the winner between Nurmagomedov and Gaethje, who fight in October.
Conor McGregor shows off hand speed in shadow boxing as UFC star holidays in France
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
