UFC chief says McGregor unique, relieved about Fedor deal

UFC President Dana White, in a wide-ranging interview on "The Pivot Podcast," has declared that there will never be another star like Conor McGregor while also revealing he feels relief over the promotion's failed, multi-million dollar attempt to sign heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko years ago.

White's comments on McGregor come in the wake of the Irish superstar's ill-fated return to competition. McGregor, 38, suffered a first-round TKO loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329 earlier this month in Las Vegas after sustaining a serious knee injury moments into the fight. The defeat marks McGregor's fourth loss in his last five octagon appearances, with his last victory coming in January 2020.

Despite the recent setbacks, White was effusive in his praise for McGregor's unique impact on mixed martial arts. He described the former two-division champion as a "unicorn" whose combination of timing, personality, and success is irreplicable. White stated that while new superstars will emerge, the specific phenomenon of McGregor's rise will not be repeated. McGregor, who also crossed over to box Floyd Mayweather in 2017, remains the promotion's biggest commercial draw. His comeback fight at...