With the recent announcement of Conor McGregor chasing history, and attempting to become the first simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history, it seems almost forgotten that just a few months ago McGregor had fake retired from the UFC and was publicly courting a boxing match with former boxing pound-for-pound kingpin Floyd Mayweather Jr. At the time, there was much public discussion of the spectacle affair with even some mainstream sports media members suggesting it was a done deal.

Ultimately, it was a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. No Mayweather-McGregor superfight ever materialized and no serious discussions were ever had about one. Instead, Mayweather has stayed retired and McGregor won his rematch with Nate Diaz and solidified himself as the top star in MMA history.

Catching up with Mayweather on Wednesday, TMZ Sports asked the now fight promoter why the McGregor fight never materialized.

"Within my company, I'm the boss," Mayweather said. "I call the shots. I think that the fight is very difficult to make. I tried to make that before, it didn't happen but you live and you learn."

Though at the time both Mayweather and McGregor verbally agreed to a bout, the real impediment always looked to be securing the involvement of UFC President Dana White. White holds the promotional rights to McGregor and always appeared to be less than enthused with the prospect of a boxing bout for his biggest star. The UFC has never been in the business of co-promotion and aside from the hundreds of other impediments, the idea of White splitting promotion with Mayweather always seemed slim.

TMZ Sports also asked Mayweather his thoughts on the idea that McGregor built his own brand by biting Mayweather's "Money" persona. In his response, Mayweather was very complimentary of the Irish star.

"If he did take anything from me, if he did steal my blueprint then, I think it's a good thing. I think he's a hell of a fighter. He can fight. He can box real good. As far as stand up, he's very good at standing up fighting. Everyone is asking me ‘are we going to fight' and I just don't know."

In the absence of a McGregor fight, Mayweather said he was a happily retired "old man" with no intention of returning, though he did give one caveat.

"I'm loving retirement, but for a couple more bucks you just don't know."

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MEDIA STEW

Kenny's Conor is decent and Rashad's GSP is good.

Rashad talking about 205.

CM Punk is definitely gonna get another UFC fight guys. Watch.

If Jose does retire, he does so as one of the 10 best fighters of all time. I'd say top 5.

Chael on referee touching.

LISTEN UP

Heavy Hands

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TWEETS

Poor Jeremy.

I fixed the video of Conor McGregor wrecking Jeremy Stephens at the #UFC205 press conferencepic.twitter.com/pYE1BlghId — Mike Dyce (@mikedyce) September 28, 2016

Y'all are too much https://t.co/XuwtfTPIVk — Mike Dyce (@mikedyce) September 28, 2016

Lol.

Still waiting on a question like #ynuevo esperando Por un pregunta pic.twitter.com/79Somnk10z — Yoel Romero (@YoelRomeroMMA) September 28, 2016

Everyone saying @RondaRousey said she wants to fight me. Ne1 wonder y we haven't actually SEEN HER SAY IT? Say my name 3 times like candyman — Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) September 28, 2016

2 Million buys.

We run New York A photo posted by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on Sep 28, 2016 at 7:02am PDT

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jake Ellenberger (33-11-0) vs. Jorge Masvidal (30-11-0); UFC TUF 24 Finale, December 3.

Justin Scoggins (11-2-0) vs. Pedro Munhoz (12-2-0); UFC Fight Night 100, November 19.





TODAY IN MMA HISTORY 2012: Stipe Miocic suffered his first career loss when Stefan Struve knocked him out in the main event of UFC on Fuel TV 5.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Be excellent unto each other. See you tomorrow.

If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.