Vintage Conor McGregor ranks among the most entertaining combat sports athletes of all time, and Dana White stands as one of the best if not the best promoter in the business. White recently appeared on Andrew Schulz's Flagrant podcast, where he mentioned Muhammad Ali and Conor McGregor in the same breath.
McGregor is currently facing criticism for missing the opening press conference for his UFC 303 fight against Michael Chandler. Even Chandler has left his training camp to return to his family's town. But what if this chaos is part of McGregor's strategy? Comedian Andrew Schulz believes McGregor might be playing mind games.
The former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Champion continues to post videos and photos of himself enjoying lavish parties.
Muhammad Ali’s mind games
In the podcast, White covered various aspects of his role as UFC President but tried to steer clear of discussing McGregor. When Schulz suggested that McGregor might be playing mind games with everyone, White didn’t agree but made a humorous comparison.
“Ali, Conor, both level when it comes to mental warfare, the two best of all time when it comes to mental warfare. If you look back at Ali, at what he did to George Foreman in Africa, you look at what he did to Joe Frazier,” the UFC President said.
“I mean throughout his entire f—–ing career. Joe Frazier f—-ing hated Muhammad Ali so f—–ing badly you know, he’d show up at his camp outside and f—–ing do all this s—t,” White continued.
“He would predict rounds, he would come up with f—–ing incredible poems and saying and things that he would do leading up to the fight.”
The case for Conor McGregor
“Then you look at Conor McGregor, he’s picked rounds, I mean the mental warfare that this guy had on so many of his fighters,” Dana White compared Ali to McGregor.
McGregor has consistently used mind games against his opponents, from Jose Aldo and Nate Diaz to Donald Cerrone and Eddie Alvarez. He tried the same tactics against Khabib Nurmagomedov but ended up losing in the fourth round by submission.
“Jose Aldo wanted to tear his head off going into that fight,” said Schulz, agreeing with White.
“100% and he’d make these guys play into his game, get into their heads f—-ing embarrass them and outwit them in every way, shape, and form. The Eddie Alvarez fight going into Madison Square Garden. He is literally at Ali’s level when it comes to mental warfare,” said Dana White strengthening his Ali-McGregor comparison.
Conor McGregor Vs Michael Chandler
McGregor is pushing for a new deal with the UFC, possibly using it as leverage to threaten withdrawal from his fight with Michael Chandler. He last fought nearly three years ago, suffering a loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021 when he broke his leg. Additionally, McGregor made his feature film debut as the main antagonist in “Road House,” which hit theaters earlier this year.
Chandler has eagerly anticipated facing McGregor ever since they filmed a season of The Ultimate Fighter reality competition series together last year. After months of speculation, they officially set a fight date for June 29, coinciding with the UFC's annual International Fight Week.
Despite his extended absence from the octagon, McGregor retains his status as the biggest star in MMA. The UFC and its fans are eagerly anticipating his return to the fight later this month, especially given Wednesday's news and McGregor's impeccable track record of never pulling out of a fight due to injury throughout his career.
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