The feeling had been that if Conor McGregor had gotten by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257, then he could step in for another boxing match against Manny Pacquiao.
Poirier had different plans in mind, dismantling McGregor to win by second-round TKO. Out went the Pacquiao talks.
"That Manny fight was happening. It was as good as done," McGregor said at his UFC 257 post-fight press conference. "I just want to get in and get back into a bounce, especially against that style of fighter, and not take those kicks."
Pacquiao didn't make any statement towards McGregor in the immediate aftermath of UFC 257. That changed in an interview Pacquiao conducted with ABS-CBN News. Boxing's only eight-division world champion thinks McGregor's dominant stoppage win over Poirier at UFC 178 made him overlook "The Diamond".
"Losing is part of the game," Pacquiao told ABS-CBN News. "In sport, there are winners and losers, that's all. It is not about defeat, but about how you accept defeat in your life: how you get over that difficult time in your life.
"McGregor had already beaten his rival before, and I think that made him underestimate him."
What's next for McGregor is unknown, but a boxing return is doubtful. Trilogy bouts inside the Octagon with Poirier or Nate Diaz appear to be next for McGregor.
A match with Ryan Garcia could be next for Pacquiao. The Athletic reports both fight camps are "making progress" toward a deal with the legend meeting the rising star.