Conor McGregor’s Close Encounter with Manny Pacquiao: A Missed Opportunity

Former UFC champion Conor McGregor reveals his missed opportunity to fight Manny Pacquiao in Saudi Arabia. Despite a serious injury, McGregor is determined to make a comeback and return to the Octagon in April.

Conor McGregor’s Missed Opportunity

Former UFC champion Conor McGregor recently revealed that he was on the verge of fighting boxing legend Manny Pacquiao in Saudi Arabia a few years ago. McGregor, once the UFC’s biggest star, was in Saudi Arabia to witness the boxing match between Tyson Fury and MMA’s Francis Ngannou. Despite Ngannou’s loss, McGregor felt the need to represent MMA and challenge the dominance of boxing.

In an interview with Daily Mail, McGregor expressed his desire to make a mark in the boxing world. He stated, ‘One of us in the MMA sphere is going to have to put a dent in the boxing run. We’re going to have to get in, switch the roles, and get a win. And now it’s MMA time.’ McGregor believed that his potential fight with Pacquiao could have been the perfect opportunity to achieve this.

According to McGregor, the fight with Pacquiao was arranged by Saudi Arabia ‘s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. He revealed, ‘His excellency set myself and Manny Pacquiao together. There was a discussion, and it was close for us to fight in Saudi Arabia about two or three years ago now.’ Unfortunately, McGregor’s plans were derailed by a severe injury he sustained during his fight against Dustin Poirier in 2021. He broke his tibia, which forced him to take a break from professional fighting.

However, McGregor is determined to make a comeback and is eyeing a return to the Octagon in April. Although he initially hoped for a December fight, he wants to be honest with himself and his fans. McGregor stated, ‘April is a lovely run-up for me, and I’d be happy with that. I’m in a good spot, I’ve been training – I’ve been leaving also. But I’ve been training, and April seems like a good time to come back.’ After almost three years away from his way of living, McGregor is eager to make his return.

Summary

In a recent interview, former UFC champion Conor McGregor revealed that he was close to fighting Manny Pacquiao in Saudi Arabia a few years ago. However, a serious injury during his fight against Dustin Poirier in 2021 prevented the super fight from happening. McGregor expressed his desire to represent MMA and challenge the dominance of boxing. He is now preparing for a comeback and aims to return to the Octagon in April.