Dana White brands Conor McGregor his favourite ever UFC star despite row with fighter over leaked messages

UFC chief Dana White says Conor McGregor is his favourite ever fighter – despite being furious at the Irishman leaking private messages.

In September McGregor shared screenshots of a text conversation with White after being called out by 38-year-old veteran Diego Sanchez.

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Dana White and Conor McGregor appear to have ironed out their differences[/caption]

White was fuming and called it ‘one of the dirtiest things you can do’.

Before his rematch against Dustin Poirier, which he lost, McGregor explained that he released the messages because he was ‘frustrated’ and wanted to land another fight.

But speaking to Mike Tyson on his Hotboxin’ podcast, White seemingly still has respect for the UFC’s greatest money-making machine.

When asked who his favourite fighter was, White responded: “I mean it’s hard not to say Conor McGregor.

“McGregor comes out and puts on a show, the world goes crazy, the whole world is buzzing when that guy fights.”

White then added that McGregor brings ‘the noise, the gate and the pay-per-view’ every time he fights.

McGregor and White hashed out their issues, with their reconciliation paving the way for The Notorious to headline the UFC’s first show of 2021.

But White admitted his relationship with the UFC’s poster boy was on the rocks, telling ESPN: “We were in a really bad place then, I was really upset.

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YouTube: Hotboxin' with Mike Tyson

White was a guest on Mike Tyson’s Hotboxin’ podcast with ex-boxer Zab Judah[/caption]

“It wasn’t because he put out private messages.

“We were talking about another fighter. And I like Diego Sanchez. I have a lot of respect for Diego Sanchez.

“I care about Diego Sanchez. I talked to Diego face-to-face about it, and being the great human being he is, we’re all good.

“I was really upset with Conor, but we fixed that and now we’re all good.”

McGregor is now chasing the trilogy fight against Poirier in what could be make-or-break for his UFC career.