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Former UFC welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy sees zero value in a fight between Conor McGregor and Diego Sanchez.
Count UFC commentator Dan Hardy as one of the many people out there who are not interested in seeing former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor take on The Ultimate Fighter 1 winner Diego Sanchez. The match-up was one put forward by McGregor himself in recently released private messages to UFC President Dana White.
In their back-and-forth, White brushed off the suggested booking. Meanwhile McGregor has maintained that a fight with Sanchez would be a worthwhile endeavor.
At a press event around the UFC’s ensuing run of shows in Abu Dhabi, ‘the Outlaw’ was asked directly about a potential McGregor vs. Sanchez fight.
“It would be an execution to put Conor in there with Sanchez at this point,” said Hardy (h/t MMA Fighting). “And I don’t think Conor would really gain anything from it.”
“Who knows what Conor’s thinking?” Continued Hardy. “I don’t know. He loves a headline. And if a week goes by without him being in the headlines, he’s gonna do something outlandish to garner some attention. I think that’s what that was.”
Hardy went on to say that he thought there were other fights involving McGregor that would interest him, including a rematch between the Irishman and one-time interim champ Dustin Poirier.
McGregor and Poirier recently chatted on twitter and a potential rematch for charity. Though, it seems unlikely the UFC—which holds enormous power over both men’s career options—would let that go ahead.
McGregor has also spoken openly about plans to box Manny Pacquiao in 2021, something Pacquiao’s camp seems to have confirmed. Hardy didn’t seem to believe that a return to boxing would do much good for McGregor.
“Conor fighting Manny Pacquiao is not gonna look good on Conor, because everyone loves Pacquiao. It’s not gonna be great for his brand, and he’s gonna have to play the heel in that one, so it’s almost like he’s taking on that role a little bit.”