Conor McGregor slams UFC for ‘borderline criminal’ fight snubs and insists he’d rather compete in MMA than boxing
CONOR McGREGOR has slammed UFC for not sorting him out a fight and called their actions 'borderline criminal'.
The Irishman has announced plans for another foray into boxing, and will reportedly fight Manny Pacquiao in the Middle East.
But McGregor posted a scathing Instagram post where he insisted he would 'rather fight in MMA' and accused UFC of 'holding him back'.
And he pleaded with Disney CEO Bob Chapek to help resolve the situation.
Disney own ESPN, who televise the UFC's fights live.
McGregor's frustrations saw him retire for a THIRD TIME in June, his last fight coming in January when he destroyed Donald Cerrone in under a minute.
Posting a photo of him landing a punch during his tenth-round boxing stoppage loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2017, McGregor began reminiscing about that fight.
He blasted those who said he 'wouldn't land a punch' on the boxing legend, and says the particular image he uploaded was 'the very first shot of the fight, right on the button through the guard'.
But his tone soon changed to anger when he discussed his relationship with the UFC.
He wrote: "I’d rather fight MMA anyway not sure why I’ve been held back like this, it’s borderline criminal at this stage.
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"The biggest number generator in the game asking for four fights since February this year and getting left on seen (sic).
"It’s pretty f****d up when I keep thinking of it. I’ve been right here this whole time."
McGregor then appealed to Disney chief Chapek to get involved.
He added: "Bob Chapek, do you copy! I repeat, Bob Chapek - do you copy!
"Anyways boxing it is for now and I’m up for this! I hope no bottling takes place here.
"I’m already agreeing to these limited rules and holding back my full array of weapons. Let’s get it going guys."
SunSport reported how UFC chief White slammed McGregor after the Irishman shared a private conversation online.
McGregor, 32, took to social media after 38-year-old veteran Diego Sanchez called him out.
McGregor showed four screenshots of his conversation with White including one message that read: "A fight late May in LA. Me and Diego in Dublin in August.
"Rematch end of the year. BOOM. Me and Diego in Dublin is a cracker."
It's fair to say White was less than impressed with the suggestion and responded: "Bro, we should lose our promoter's license if we make that fight."
But White was even more furious with the fact McGregor shared the chat to his 8.2million followers.
Lashing out at the two-weight division world champ, he said at the UFC 253 post-fight press conference: “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."
McGregor will be the huge underdog when he fights one of boxing's best ever in Pacquiao.
But The Notorious insists his boxing technique has improved since fighting Mayweather.
The UFC superstar made his ring debut in 2017, losing in ten rounds to all-time great Mayweather.
McGregor said: "I actually look at the Mayweather [fight], the shots on the bag and the way I was punching and I actually can’t even watch that.
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"I shiver when I see the way I was throwing my punches back then. I just wasn’t sitting right on them, just floating through the air.
"Now I’m getting into positions and sitting in. Got to go through everything to learn, to truly learn. Experience is the best teacher of all."
