UFC President Dana White has explained why he released the sparring footage between UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor and former boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi.
According to White, Malignaggi was lying in interviews about what had happened during their sparring sessions. As a result, White decided to show the world what really happened when McGregor and Malignaggi met inside the ring.
“I was there for all 12 rounds, and Paulie has said some crazy things, some bad things about me. I felt sorry for the guy,” White said in a recent interview. “It was a one-way beating. Paulie was lying about a lot of things in the sparring match, so I released it.”
After the footage was released, Malignaggi said their sparring session was edited to make McGregor look good.
“What am I? Steven Spielberg? Come on,” White said. “It’s footage of the actual sparring.”
McGregor is currently training to fight in his first professional boxing match. On Aug. 26, McGregor will fight boxing icon Floyd “Money” Mayweather in Las Vegas.
