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UFC president Dana White separates Conor McGregor and Diego Brandao at the weigh-ins ahead of their fight last year. James Crombie/INPHO

UFC boss claims only Muhammad Ali can match McGregor for 'mental warfare'

Dana White in hyperbole shocker.

HE CAN’T BE regarded as one of MMA’s all-time greats when it comes to fighting just yet, but Dana White believes Conor McGregor has already mastered the art of “the fight that comes before the fight”.

White told Yahoo’s Kevin Iole that when it comes to playing mind games with his opponents, McGregor is the best in the business. The UFC president even went as far as to compare the Irish star’s “mental warfare” skills to Muhammad Ali’s.

McGregor, the UFC’s interim featherweight champion, faces reigning 145lbs title-holder Jose Aldo next weekend in a championship unification bout at UFC 194 in Las Vegas.

“It’s too early to tell if Conor is one of the greatest fighters ever, though we’re getting close [to being able to tell]. A win over Jose Aldo would get him going in the right direction, obviously,” White said.

“But I can tell you this, without reservation: He is the greatest mental warfare fighter I have ever met. Ever. The best. He doesn’t just fuck with the guys he’s going to fight. He fucks with everybody.”

White referred to McGregor’s description of the UFC’s lightweight division — which the Dubliner is expected to move up to in 2016 — as ‘the stuck-in-the-mud division’.

“He’ll talk about how fast everyone is at 145lbs and these guys are stuck in the mud [at lightweight], and all of a sudden, those guys start thinking, ‘What the fuck? Am I slow? Can I hang with this guy?’ And that’s just the beginning. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone better at mental warfare than him.”

Ali Frazier 1974 Muhammad Ali in action against Joe Frazier in 1974. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

White added: “I know it’s sacrilege to compare anybody to Muhammad Ali in anything in the fight business. You don’t ever want to be comparing people to Muhammad Ali, but he’s the only one who comes to mind when it comes to the mental warfare that Conor wages.

“But think about it: When you think of the mental game, and the fight that comes before the fight, you think of Conor McGregor and Muhammad Ali.”

The UFC’s hour-long Aldo-McGregor special looks absolutely unmissable

Norman Parke believes McGregor is ‘a really bad match-up for Aldo’

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29 Comments
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    Mute Aidan Baird
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    Mar 6th 2014, 1:28 PM

    pair of copa mundials is all one needs.

    200
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    Mute Rocky Raccoon
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    Mar 6th 2014, 1:51 PM

    Can you imagine trying to clean the muck off them after plying on a waterlogged pitch?!

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    Mute robby rottenest
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    Mar 6th 2014, 1:27 PM

    Every parent’s worst nightmare. My wallet feels lighter already!

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Mar 6th 2014, 8:50 PM

    Time you told your kid the word no!

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Mar 6th 2014, 1:28 PM

    Ye’d wanna be fairly fast and skillful to get away with wearing them on a cold sunday in wexford

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    Mute Sean Lawlor
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    Mar 6th 2014, 4:56 PM

    Would go down a storm in the junior b North Tipperary hurling championship! Old bitter full backs would love to see lads wearing these

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    Mute Paul Cullen
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    Mar 6th 2014, 1:07 PM

    Nonsense

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    Mute James Bergin
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    Mar 6th 2014, 1:44 PM

    The Metatarsal will become even more popular so!

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    Mute Mattew Keane
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    Mar 6th 2014, 5:14 PM

    Here’s hoping , Suarez will be the first one to try them out :-)

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    Mute John Lally
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    Mar 6th 2014, 9:43 PM

    He is the first one actually, against united. As a Liverpool fan I’m dreading it. Imagine vidic going in on one of these things. Break your foot off

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    Mute Shane Robinson
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    Mar 7th 2014, 6:43 AM

    No, Suarez is trialling the knitted boot, not this.

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    Mute Shane Robinson
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    Mar 7th 2014, 6:45 AM

    With the sock bit I mean

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    Mute pt_healy
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    Mar 6th 2014, 8:01 PM

    Read the story about Paul Scholes purchasing boots for €30 at JD sports before his comeback at city, says it all!

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    Mute Keith Cahill
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    Mar 6th 2014, 2:20 PM

    How do you wash the sock? What happens if you get a hole in it!! Even worse image away matches with a different kit!!! Youd need home amd away boots!!!

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    Mute Mysterion
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    Mar 6th 2014, 1:47 PM

    Hmmm somebody on the pitch to hurt

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    Mute Mark Lillis
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    Mar 6th 2014, 10:29 PM

    What ever happened to good old Puma Kings?

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Mar 6th 2014, 3:54 PM

    Boots of the future hahahahahahahahahashahahahaahahahahahaahahahagagagagagahha……… Wwwwwwoooooioooooooooooo……..!

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    Mute Anthony O'Donovan
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    Mar 7th 2014, 9:37 AM

    So when will the nike team blouse and tu-tu shorts be available?

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    Mute Shane Robinson
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    Mar 7th 2014, 6:42 AM

    Bad idea. They will weaken players ankles.

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    Mute colm buckley
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    Mar 7th 2014, 3:54 AM

    Like boxing shoes only with studs

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