Dana White: 'Nothing against' Paulie Malignaggi, though Showtime turned down offer of sparring footage

LAS VEGAS – Dana White has “nothing against” former Conor McGregor sparring partner Paulie Malignaggi, though the UFC president did offer Showtime some of their infamous sparring footage.

Malignaggi (36-8 boxing), a former pro boxer and who held titles in two divisions, retired earlier this year and shifted to a career in boxing commentary. But as UFC lightweight champion McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) prepares for an Aug. 26 boxing match with undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather (49-0 boxing), Malignaggi briefly served as a McGregor sparring partner.

Since a high-profile falling out with McGregor, Malignaggi and White have offered different accounts of how the sparring sessions unfolded.

After spending roughly a week in McGregor’s camp, Malignaggi made a sudden exit when unflattering sparring photos surfaced online. White then released 22 unflattering seconds of footage; Malignaggi suggested it was a typical classless move from White.

However, White said it could have been even more embarrassing for the 36-year-old pugilist.

“I have nothing against Paulie,” White told MMAjunkie and other reporters on Tuesday during a small media scrum. “I don’t even know the guy. I don’t know him. But you know me, man. When you start talking (expletive) – (with) how I get – I actually felt bad for the guy. I actually felt bad for him.”

Malignaggi is actually now a Showtime commentator and will provide analysis for the Aug. 26 pay-per-view broadcast of Mayweather vs. McGregor. It’s perhaps no wonder why, then, White’s offer to Showtime was turned down.

“The last thing I want to do is get in a beef with Showtime, but we gave them a ton of the footage of the (Malignaggi vs. McGregor) sparring, and they denied it – because they didn’t want to make Paulie look bad,” he said. “They had a ton of the sparring footage, and they wanted to use zero (of it).”

White then continued to further play up the alleged one-sided nature of the sparring sessions. He said Malignaggi’s departure from the camp was a wise move.

“As far as his health goes, he made the right decision to leave that camp,” White said. ” … I think he made the decision for his health, and I think it was the right decision. And I’m not talking (expletive). What do I care? It makes no difference in my life whatsoever.

“This was a deal between Conor and this boxer and whatever. But I’m just telling you he made the right decision for his health, because it was a 12-round straight ass-whooping. It was as bad an ass-whooping as I’ve ever seen.”

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