Dana White: UFC doesn’t give Conor McGregor special treatment

Despite what others may think, Conor McGregor does not receive preferential treatment from the UFC, according to company president Dana White.

McGregor (15-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has lived the life of luxury in the weeks leading up to his anticipated UFC 178 showdown with Dustin Poirier (16-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC).

He set up shop at Las Vegas’ Red Rock Casino Resort Spa upon arriving in Sin City for tonight’s event, has done media hits across the globe, and even shared a hotel suite with White to watch UFC Fight Night 52 live from Japan this past weekend.

Moreover, McGregor announced he was invited sit cageside in Brazil for next month’s UFC 179 featherweight title bout between champion Jose Aldo and No. 1 contender Chad Mendes.

When the perks are packaged together, McGregor may appear to be on the UFC’s good side more than most colleagues – especially when Poirier wasn’t provided the same opportunities.

White admitted he views McGregor as a star in the making, but when asked if he favors the brash Irishman more than Poirier or other fighters on the roster, the UFC boss gave an adamant denial.

“Conor McGregor is one of these guys that – he did a $1.4 million gate in Ireland. He has that star potential,” White told MMAjunkie at Thursday’s UFC 178 media day. “We don’t treat Conor any different than we’ve everybody in this f-cking organization. From Ronda (Rousey) to Rashad (Evans) to Chuck Liddell – everybody’s been treated fairly here.”

McGregor and Poirier meet on UFC 178’s pay-per-view main card at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The two featherweight contenders have exchanged many insults in the lead-up to fight night. McGregor is out to prove he’s an elite 145-pounder. Poirier is eager to show why he’s ranked among the world’s best and turn back the rising star.

Whether the UFC has given McGregor special treatment is irrelevant to Poirier, he said. The result of the fight is what’s most important from his perspective, and if UFC officials are backing a specific horse, he’s out to show why McGregor is the wrong one.

“All of that makes no sense when I win Saturday night, so that’s all I’m focused on,” Poirier said in a recent interview. “If they’re bringing him out there (to Brazil), how can you overlook somebody? Especially somebody who is as dangerous as myself? I’m coming in here to win. I’m not here to lose to this guy. I’m here to beat this guy up and go home.”

For more on UFC 178, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.