UFC president Dana White was less than pleased with Conor McGregor’s antics back in 2020.
McGregor has long been the top face on MMA’s biggest stage, having risen to an unparalleled level of global stardom courtesy of his brash personality and surge to championship glory in two different weight classes.
The Irishman is credited by many for heavily contributing to the sport’s growth, even leading to Ian Machado Garry recently putting McGregor on his MMA Mount Rushmore over the likes of Demetrious Johnson, Fedor Emelianenko, and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
With his drawing power in mind, it’s no surprise that White has frequently praised McGregor. But the pair’s relationship has not always been in a good place.
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Conor McGregor angered Dana White in 2020 by leaking private texts
On this day, September 26, in 2020, the UFC 253 pay-per-view took place at the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi. The event concluded with Israel Adesanya’s knockout against Paulo Costa and featured standout performances from the likes of Jan Blachowicz and Brandon Royval.
Post-fight, though, the action inside the Octagon was not the only topic that drew a reaction from the UFC president.
A day before, ‘The Notorious’ had caused a stir by posting direct messages between him and White from February of that year, shortly after McGregor’s comeback fight against Donald Cerrone.
The exchange included the Irishman calling to fight UFC veteran Diego Sanchez, who was beaten by Jake Matthews at UFC 253 in what turned out to be his final appearance inside the Octagon.
Suffice to say, White was not happy to have had his private messages released to the public.
“I had people blowing me up left and right,” White said at the UFC 253 post-fight press conference.
“I mean, everybody here knows, I mean even the ladies, this is some man-code stuff, but it’s just something you don’t do…it is one of the dirtiest things you can do.
“Diego Sanchez was in there in this private conversation that I was having with Conor McGregor,” he continued. “When you are the number two or three-ranked guy in the world, and you’re telling me that you want to fight unranked 39-year-old Diego Sanchez in the main event of Los Angeles. Well…”
During the leaked messages, White wrote, “We should lose our promoters license if we make that fight,” regarding McGregor’s plan to face Sanchez.
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Dana White favors Conor McGregor over Jon Jones for huge 2026 event
The Irishman ultimately returned the following year for two fights against Dustin Poirier. But since McGregor broke his leg at UFC 264, he has not been seen inside the Octagon.
Although many have written off any chance of ‘The Notorious’ fighting again, talk of the UFC staging an event at the White House in 2026 to celebrate 250 years of American independence has reignited speculation about McGregor’s comeback.
The Dubliner is not the only man targeting the event, with leading GOAT contender Jon Jones also eyeing up the White House card. But White favors McGregor for the occasion over Jones, describing ‘Bones’ as too unreliable.
“(Jones) is the greatest of all time, I still know that to be a fact,” Jones said on The W.A.D.E. Concept. “But he’s not the greatest of all time ‘guy you can count on that you know 100 per cent is going to be solid and be there’.
“Say what you want about Conor McGregor because people like to talk s— about that too, but he is that guy. He’s always been that guy.
“There are a lot of guys who talk tough publicly but behind the scenes it’s a whole other ball game,” White continued. “When the s— hits the fan, who’s really willing to go out there? Conor McGregor has always been that guy.”