The countdown to UFC 229 is truly underway and the mind games between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov began last evening at the UFC 229 pre-fight press conference in New York.

McGregor took several jabs at Nurmagomedov touching on a variety of subjects including the infamous bus attack in Brooklyn, the Russian’s father, his relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin, and even taking jabs at his manager Ali Abdelaziz.

At times it was no-holds barred McGregor and with the lack of fans in the arena it made for an obscure, quiet atmosphere. Speaking after the press in a media scrum, UFC president Dana White described the mood standing between the Irishman and the Russian on the stage.

“It was dark man, it was the darkest press conference I’ve ever been a part of,” White said. “Conor McGregor is the master of mental warfare. I’ll say it before and I’ll say it again man, he’s better than anyone, even [Muhammad] Ali. I don’t like to say anyone is better than Ali, but when it comes to the mental side of this sport or any other sport, I think Conor is the best ever.” “Here’s the thing about McGregor too,” White continued. “He’s so good at it, he studies, he studies every little thing and he talks to people. He finds out stories in a guy’s camp. Look at the whole thing that he did on The Ultimate Fighter with Urijah Faber, TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt and all those guys. At one point he had Cody Garbrandt up trying to fight him. He is the master, he is the best to ever do it. Nobody does it better than Conor does.”

When asked if he thought McGregor got into Nurmagomedov’s head, White didn’t take two seconds to say that he did. According to the UFC president, no man could’ve brushed off McGregor’s comments without it playing on their mind.

“Yes, you’re not human if that doesn’t affect you, it’s not possible for it not to affect you,” White said. “Conor knows that and you know, Conor came in and did what Conor does. That’s why I say it, he’s the best ever. There’s never been anyone better and the mental warfare game than Conor McGregor. He’s the absolute best of all time.”

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