Conor McGregor announces plan for UFC comeback as he calls out Diego Sanchez for fight ‘somewhere down the line’
CONOR McGREGOR has revealed that he wants to return to UFC - and would love to fight Diego Sanchez 'somewhere down the line'.
The Notorious outlined his plans to step back into the octagon having announced his latest retirement from the sport in June.
He proposed the Sanchez fight to Dana White back in February, but the idea was rubbished by the UFC president.
But, undeterred, McGregor, 32 - who looks set to fight Manny Pacquiao in the boxing ring first - has reiterated his desire to face the 31-13 American.
He tweeted: "I am still interested in a fight with you somewhere down the line Diego Sanchez.
"A true warrior and pioneer of this sport. It would be my honour!
"Some journalists and promoters and their lack of respect for what the fighters put into this game make me sick.
"Things must change!"
McGregor revealed private messages with White from back in February, in which he asked the UFC chief to put on a bout between himself and Sanchez in Dublin in August.
White, 50, was not impressed by the idea, however, responding: "Bro.
"We should lose our promoters license if we make that fight."
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And asked to respond to McGregor's tweets last night, following UFC 253, White was distinctly unimpressed.
He said: "I had people blowing me up left and right.
"I mean everybody here knows, I mean even the ladies, this is some man-code stuff but it’s just something you don’t do.
“It’s just something that you don’t do, it is one of the dirtiest things you can do.
When you are the number two or three ranked guy in the world, and you’re telling me that you want to fight unranked 39-year-old Diego Sanchez in the main event of Los Angeles. Well…
Dana White
“Which, by the way, because we were just talking about Diego Sanchez. And Diego Sanchez was in there in this private conversation that I was having with Conor McGregor.
“When you are the number two or three ranked guy in the world, and you’re telling me that you want to fight unranked 39-year-old Diego Sanchez in the main event of Los Angeles. Well…”
Sanchez has lost two of his last three fights, including at last night's UFC 253 event when he was beaten by Jake Matthews by unanimous decision in Abu Dhabi.
Even if White does have a change of heart, however, Sanchez will have to wait a little while - with McGregor set to fight Pacquiao in the Middle East in December or January.
The former two-weight UFC champion sensationally confirmed his return from retirement on Friday, taking to Twitter to reveal that he'd be facing the legendary Filipino in the boxing ring.
And while neither fighter has yet signed on the dotted line, representative Audie Attar confirmed to ESPN's Ariel Helwani that talks are progressing nicely.
McGregor is then expected to return to the UFC full-time in 2021.
Whether or not he'll fight cleanly against Pacquiao, 41, however, remains to be seen after revealing he regretted not using his MMA skills against Floyd Mayweather.
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He posted on Instagram: "I’m upset I fully followed the rules for that fight to be honest. Floyd deserved a volley at the least. A shoulder even, break the face.
"Manny not so much tho I don’t think, but I will see how the build up goes and wait to hear what bitter old Freddie Roach has to say and then make a decision. My Whiskeys at half a b and climbing I could take a fine."
