McGregor Wants MMA Fight Next, Despite Manny Pacquiao Rumours

Conor McGregor has been one of the men of 2017, springing from being a star in a relatively minor field to a bona fide global superstar.

Sure, he might have lost to Floyd Mayweather in his professional boxing debut, but he ended up with a record purse for his troubles, estimated at a minimum of $30 million.

It isn't surprising, then, that the eyes of the combat sports world are on the Notorious one and faintly obsessed with what he is going to do next.

McGregor is enjoying a well-earned break at the moment, swanning around New York City with his partner, Dee Devlin, and their new born son, but he was stopped in the street by TMZ and asked what his next move might be.

"I think a true fight is what I want to do next," said McGregor, heavily hinting that he will return to the UFC.

"A real fight. MMA next," he added. There had been strong rumours that McGregor was looking for another money-spinning turn in the ring with a former dancing partner of Floyd Mayweather's, Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, but these latest comments appear to put the kybosh on that.

Ditto two-time world champion Paulie Malignaggi, who has been calling out McGregor after Conor released edited footage that appeared to show Paulie getting dropped in a sparring session, which Paulie contests.

Credit: PA

This confirms a tweet that was sent out by UFC chief Dana White earlier in the week: "He's not Boxing [sic] anyone so calm down cry babies," tweeted White on Friday morning.

He'll not be lacking for takers if he returns to the Octagon in 2018. The MMA world has far from stood still in his absence: Tony Ferguson is now on a 10 fight winning streak in the lightweight division and holds the interim title, while Khabib Nurmagomedov is also waiting in the wings.

Credit: PA

Credit: PA

The biggest money, however, would almost certainly be a trilogy-completing bout with Nate Diaz, who remains the only man to have defeated McGregor in the UFC.

Diaz has been chasing a rubber match ever since McGregor avenged his defeat and that fight is certainly the one that the majority of UFC fans want to see most.

Conor had some choice words for the WWE as well, after rumours that he might appear at their showpiece Wrestlemania event, shouting: "Fuck WWE," when asked about the long-standing wrestling promotion.

Topics: Conor Mcgregor, Dee Devlin, Boxing, UFC, Fight

Chris Ogden

Chris Ogden is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from the University of East Anglia with degrees in English Literature and Creative Writing before completing his NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism. Chris has previously written for the independent culture magazine The Skinny, among other publications.

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