Conor McGregor leaks DMs from Dana White, revealing which opponents he wanted
Former UFC double champion Conor McGregor has posted a series of screenshots to social media Friday, which he claims are text exchanges he had with UFC president Dana White prior to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
If legitimate, the texts shed light on what potential matchups, locations, and timelines McGregor was considering prior to his abrupt mid-2020 retirement.
In the tweets, McGregor responded to recent comments made by veteran Diego Sanchez, who competes at UFC 253 on Saturday. Earlier this week during a virtual pre-fight news conference, Sanchez voiced his interest in a matchup with McGregor.
“To Diego Sanchez,” McGregor wrote. “I (saw) your recent comments about your final bout and I am in! After you fought (Michel) Pereira, I had requested for myself and you to compete in Dublin. This was back in February when I was working on (the opposition) for my season, (pre-COVID). Good luck this weekend!”
With his message to Sanchez, McGregor posted screenshots of what he said are Instagram direct message exchanges with White in February. In the exchange, McGregor requested a fight against Sanchez – to which White responded, “We should lose our (promoter’s) license if we make that fight.”
The texts also show McGregor had been angling for an event in May in Los Angeles. White pushed back at McGregor’s request, saying he wanted the Irishman’s return to come during International Fight Week in July.
McGregor also displayed a potential interest in a fight in Brazil, as well as a matchup against current UFC interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje – neither of which materialized.
To Diego Sanchez…
I seen your recent comments about your final bout and I am in!
After you fought Pereira, I had requested for myself and you to compete in Dublin. This was back in February when I was working on opposition for my season, pre covid.
Good luck this weekend! pic.twitter.com/Y0hf6Zr7XF— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 25, 2020
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 25, 2020
Additionally, McGregor brought to light a back-and-forth with White pertaining to being a replacement fighter for the then-scheduled-for-April UFC 249 main event between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson.
The exchange shows McGregor take exception with the idea of being a “fill-in” fighter, instead requesting a late May event be built around him.
McGregor added the caption, “3 weeks post my last (record-breaking) event, I was campaigning for another blockbuster McGregor event to take place. Sad about my season I must say.”
3 weeks post my last record breaking event, I was campaigning for another blockbuster McGregor event to take place.
Sad about my season I must say— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 25, 2020
McGregor, 32, has not competed since January 2020 when he defeated Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 by first-round TKO. The fight was McGregor’s first since an October 2018 loss to UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
On June 7, McGregor announced his retirement from fighting in a tweet following the conclusion of the UFC 250 pay-per-view broadcast.
On Sept. 10, McGregor was arrested in Corsica, Spain for an alleged incident of sexual assault. McGregor’s team has vehemently denied the claims.
Conor McGregor leaks DMs from Dana White, revealing which opponents he wanted
