Dana White believes Conor McGregor and Mike Tyson are two of the smartest men alive when it comes to fighting.
The UFC boss helped ‘Notorious’ become a global superstar worth £200 million, but it wouldn’t have been possible without some exceptional performance in the Octagon.
White and McGregor have been a great team over the yearsCredit: getty
McGregor ruthlessly ran through the featherweight division before knocking out long-time champion Jose Aldo to take his newfound fame to extraordinary heights in 2015.
The Irishman went on to win another belt at lightweight before cashing in on his celebrity status with a crossover boxing bout against Floyd Mayweather, which made him $100 million.
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Tyson enjoyed a similarly destructive run in boxing before losing his undisputed heavyweight championship in the biggest upset of all time against Buster Douglas in 1990.
White believes his biggest UFC star and ‘Iron Mike’ share one key trait that makes them great.
The MMA mogul says McGregor and Tyson have ‘off the charts’ fighter IQ.
Fight IQ is essentially ring or Octagon intelligence. More than mastering technique, it’s the art of understanding when to do certain things during a fight and the ability to make adjustments in the heat of battle.
“When you hear him speak, he’s very articulate about fighting,” White said about McGregor on the In Search of Excellence Podcast.
“Again, when you talk fighter IQ. Like, [Mike] Tyson, Conor’s fighter IQ is off the charts.”
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The UFC boss says McGregor’s fighting brain separates him from his peersCredit: Zuffa LLC via Getty
White compared his biggest star to Mike TysonCredit: Getty Images
White also praised McGregor’s business acumen after he went from collecting dole cheques ahead of his UFC debut to topping Forbes’ list of rich athletes in 2021.
He added: “Conor is a tremendous businessman.”
“I mean, Conor is one of the best partners, if not the best partner, we have ever had when it comes to being in business with somebody.
“If you look at all the brands he has built off of his brand, [he’s a] very, very sharp kid.”
McGregor has become a very rich man away from fightingCredit: Getty
McGregor hasn’t fought in nearly three years, but he’s still the UFC’s biggest star because he’s stayed in the spotlight since getting injured in July 2021.
The 35-year-old will make his comeback against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29 – but first, the two men are expected to embark on a world tour to promote the event.
A win will put McGregor in line for a title shot and a defeat will leave his MMA career in limbo.
Whatever happens, White is sure McGregor will be fine as he’s got the fighter IQ to get back on track and the business brain to make money away from MMA if he chooses to.
