Dos Anjos still wants McGregor: Story speaks for itself

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos wants to finally step into the cage opposite Conor McGregor.

The two were scheduled to meet at UFC 196 in March 2016. At the time, Dos Anjos held the 155-pound title and McGregor had just won the 145-pound belt. However, Dos Anjos fell out of the matchup two weeks out after breaking his foot. Nate Diaz stepped in on short notice and submitted McGregor, setting up a rematch that summer.

More than two years later, McGregor and Dos Anjos were in talks to fight for the interim welterweight title, but the Irishman's infamous bus attack in April 2018 derailed those plans.

"I got a lot of fights," Dos Anjos told MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn. "That was the only one that I didn't make it. That's what I would like to have on my record, a fight with Conor. That's why I tweeted out, 'No more ifs.' You see a lot of people say, 'If that fight would've happened, if RDA won, if Conor won, what would've happened with Conor? If Conor had lost what would've happened?' A lot of ifs. So it's time to just put that thing on the table and let's go. Let's make this fight happen at any weight."

Dos Anjos indicated he's already broached the idea to the promotion.

"The story speaks (for) itself. ... The ball is in the UFC's court," he said.

McGregor announced his retirement earlier in June, but Dos Anjos doesn't buy it.

A matchup between Dos Anjos and McGregor would look different today compared to 2016, as the former has since established himself as a welterweight contender and the latter has won - and lost - the lightweight title and competed at 170 pounds several times. But the Brazilian said he's still confident that he'd come out on top over the former two-division champion.

"I have no doubts I would beat him," Dos Anjos said. "No doubts in my mind."