UFC superstar Conor McGregor has called for a boxing showdown with eight division champion Manny Pacquiao.

McGregor has been away from the cage since July of 2021 - when he suffered a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier.

Pacquiao, 45-years-old, has been out of action since August of 2021, when he dropped a twelve round decision to Yordenis Ugas.

The Filipino icon would retire from the sport a few weeks later, but he's been taking part in exhibition bouts.

McGregor has been growing in frustration with the UFC.

He blames the MMA organization for delaying his comeback.

According to McGregor, the Saudis are interested in paying a good financial figure to match him against Pacquiao in a boxing match.

The Saudis recently paid a handsome sum for a crossover boxing match between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former UFC beltholder Francis Ngannou.

However, McGregor would almost surely need permission from the UFC to take part in such a venture.

The Irish fighter was ringside on Saturday in Riyadh, to watch the big 'Day of Reckoning' event.

"Get me back in there. The Mac has lots to offer and loads to deliver. They are talking Manny here in Saudi. The lads in the UFC aren't really talking any. So, the lads here are talking Manny, the UFC aren't talking any," McGregor told Talk Sport.

"Give me something. I'm supposed to be back in April. It was supposed to be December! For all the figures I've brought in this game, I sell more than all of them combined. No one in the history of the fight game has been treated the way I've been getting treated at this minute. From what I came through, to what I bring. They f------- should open the floodgates for me. I'm waiting! And my patience is wearing thin on me waiting.

"Tell Manny to grow a set of balls and fight me at a higher weight class. Why not? It's his sport. If he wants me to come down to a smaller weight, I should be able to use more of my weapons. I should be able to kick. I should be able to grapple. Shouldn't that be fair? Say it to him. Is he a man or a mouse? Is Manny a man or a mouse?"

In 2017, McGregor made his boxing debut in a crossover fight against a returning five division champion Floyd Mayweather

Mayweather broke McGegor down and secured a stoppage victory in the tenth round. The event generated a massive amount of money, with over 4 million purchases on pay-per-view.