McGregor to Mayweather: Say it to my face

The on-again, off-again rumors about Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr are definitely on. Chael Sonnen said Conor McGregor is intent on landing the fight, UFC president Dana White said “we’ll see”, and Mayweather himself started a round of trash talk by saying he didn’t even know McGregor fought on Saturday.

Mayweather also described himself as an elephant, noted that elephants don’t notice ants like McGregor, and offered himself effusive praise. “Greetings from The Humungus!” said Mayweather or words to that effect, to a PMZ Sports stringer. “The Lord Humungus! The Warrior of the Wasteland! The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla!”

The same TMZ reporter then caught up with McGregor, who was busy taking pics with fans.

The reporter said, “So I got Floyd yesterday, and he said he didn’t see you fight, do you believe him?”

McGregor looked dubious and reversed the usual reporter to subject roles.

“Do you believe him?” asked McGregor.

As McGregor was getting into a vehicle, the reporter shouted a final question over his shoulder.

“He compared you to an ant, and said he’s an elephant,” said the reporter.

McGregor then offered a final, short, blunt retort.

“Tell him to say it to my face,” said the champ.

Despite the fact that this one was floated in May, and Mayweather finally said it was off, this fight may well yet happen. Conor McGregor wants a piece of the company. The company is not going to give him a significant piece. But Conor McGregor wants to top himself.

Notorious knocked out arguably the best pound for pound fighter in mixed martial arts in 14 seconds. That is tough to top, ever, but he fought the great Nate Diaz twice, breaking records. That is tough to top, ever, but he became the first fighter to hold two UFC belts at once. That is tough to top, ever, so McGregor is rumored to want a boxing match with Mayweather.

In order to get the boxing match with Mayweather, McGregor has to get UFC president Dana White’s OK. So there could well be a deal here.