Conor McGregor believes Floyd Mayweather would "get his earned respect" if he were to follow through on boasts of competing in mixed martial arts.
Mayweather, 40, recently teased the idea of accepting an MMA fight in several social media posts. He also did so during the buildup to his lucrative boxing match against McGregor last August, claiming he would face the UFC champion in MMA next.
McGregor (21-3), who was honored at a charity function on Wednesday in New York, says the retired boxer would deserve praise for such a move.
"If he does -- I know he's flirting with it -- I would have respect for him," McGregor told independent street journalist Adam Glyn. "I think it would get his earned respect if he were to step in."
Mayweather's posts have been widely met with skepticism. In the most recent video, he references the year 2018, saying, "What are the odds, Paddy?" Paddy Power is an Irish sportsbook who sponsored Mayweather's last fight.
If Mayweather's claims are simply for attention or promotional purposes, McGregor believes history should take note of that.
"If it is, it will follow him the rest of his days," McGregor said. "You know what I'm saying? It will follow him for the rest of his days that he did not do it.
"I said I would do it, and I stepped up and did it. His time now."
McGregor, 29, has not fought in MMA since he won the UFC's lightweight championship in November 2016. He is currently negotiating his next bout.
"We'll see, I'm currently in negotiations to face my next opponent," McGregor said. "We have many options. There's current interim lightweight champion [Tony Ferguson]. There's an undefeated Dagestani [Khabib Nurmagomedov]. There might be a big Russian event. There's obviously the [Nate] Diaz trilogy. Of course, the Mayweather fight is there.
"We're just at the table at the moment. Times are good."