Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather fight rumors 2018: UFC fighter urges boxer to fight in octagon

UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor of Ireland arrives for a post-fight news conference at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A., August 26, 2017.Reuters/Steve Marcus

Boxing legend Floyd "Money" Mayweather has been having a field day with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight Conor McGregor.

Mayweather first uploaded an Instagram video of himself wearing fight shorts while walking into an octagon, and then proceeded to taunt the Irishman by uploading a second video in which he was seen teasing a mixed martial arts (MMA) match.

But McGregor, known to the MMA community as the Notorious, is no stranger to mind games, as he employs the same tactics himself, as seen during press conferences and weigh-ins in which he would mercilessly taunt his opponents in order to throw them off their game plan.

The Irishman decided to play along with Mayweather's antics and urged the American to try his hand at MMA, saying that he is going to regret it if he lets such an opportunity pass.

Asked about what would happen if Mayweather ever decides to face him in the cage, McGregor said that he would have his way with the boxer, but he also said that if Mayweather does face him in MMA, he would give him his full respect.

"I'd do as I pleased against him, but if he does do it, I know he's flirting with it, I would have respect for him. I think it would get his earned respect in," he told Adam's Apple.

He also warned Mayweather to be careful when bluffing about doing something he really has no intention of doing, as the backlash might haunt him for life.

"If it is just hype it will follow him for the rest of his days. I said I would do it and I stepped in and did it," he went on to say.

McGregor is currently in talks for his much-awaited UFC return, possibly in September this year. His possible opponents include names like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson and Nate Diaz.