White: Conor McGregor's 'mental warfare game is better than anything I've ever seen'

Conor McMcGregor's rise to superstardom in the UFC has been fueled by impressive victories and his polarizing appearance before fights. This includes massive trash talking, which at times go well below the waistline. What seems like the rude demeanor of a brash kid from the mean streets of Dublin at first sight, is in fact a very methodical approach to the fight game, says UFC president Dana White.

"It's not even about shit talk with this guy," White said on Opie with Jim Norton on Thursday. "His mental warfare game is better than anything I've ever seen in how he gets in guys' heads immediately. Very intelligent, calculated. Conor McGregor is a very interesting guy."

McGregor is currently the UFC's featherweight titleholder and has a fight against lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos coming up at UFC 196 on March 5. While some critics hope the Irishman could finally have bitten off more than he can chew, White begs to differ, but also acknowledges it was a risky decision to move up in weight.

"Conor wants to be a two-belt champion, so he wants to fight dos Anjos, which is crazy," the UFC president said. "If you look at that guy, look what he did to 'Cowboy' Cerrone, look what he did to Ben Henderson, look what he did to Anthony Pettis. And now Conor wants to fight this guy. It's gonna be awesome."

McGregor's decision to challenge for the lightweight title next leaves 145-pound number-one contender Frankie Edgar in kind of a limbo in the foreseeable future. Edgar has earned his shot with a first-round KO over Chad Mendes in December, but no one knows when he will be able to cash it in. McGregor has even stated, that he would be interested in facing welterweight champion Robbie Lawler, too.

He said it best himself, McGregor has options. When he comes knocking, asking or a fight, fighters will accept, says Dana White.

"From flyweight to heavyweight, they all want to fight Conor McGregor," White said. "It's the money fight."

(Transcription via MMA Fighting)