Could this be the reason why Conor McGregor v Paulie Malignaggi sparring footage has yet to surface?

If you thought the Conor McGregor v Paulie Malignaggi beef had become cripplingly repetitive, you may not like what might come next.

When Conor McGregor announced to the world that he would be working with Paulie Malignaggi ahead of his professional boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather, a few eyebrows were raised. As a former two-weight world champion, Malignaggi was obviously qualified for the gig. However, it wasn't thought that two warriors could work together. This theory was supported by the manner in which McGregor confirmed he had enlisted the help of the retired pugilist.

"We're going to have a knock, then he's going to have to answer to what he's been saying."

What Malignaggi had been saying was that he could, 'beat him up with one hand tied behind his back'. The breakdown of their relationship began after a supposed leak from the McGregor camp caused Malignaggi to quit. Then the sparring footage emerged showing Malignaggi struggling against 'the Notorious.' However, these clips were just a few seconds of 20 rounds of sparring, so there's no way of proving they accurately represented how the sessions played out. Even though Dana White said he would have 'no problem' releasing the full unedited footage, it's been over a month since 'the Money Fight' and there has been no sign of it. This is despite Malignaggi's constant requests for Team McGregor to release the tape falling on deaf ears. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_UK/status/914845170495049731 Joe Cortez, the Hall of Fame referee brought in to give McGregor a lesson in the rules of boxing may have let the cat out of the bag to Helen Yee Sports. You would be forgiven for thinking Cortez was a promoter as he admitted he would 'really push' for McGregor and Malignaggi to settle their differences inside the ring.

"I think it would bring a lot of attention to the boxing fans and to the MMA fans to see what really went on in sparring in the gym that day. I guarantee you, that fight should happen. It was very competitive. I know for a fact it would make a good fight, a much better fight than Mayweather."

Surely the best way to let fans know what happened in the gym that day would be to let them SEE what happened in the gym that day. Perhaps the tape is being sat on in case they need to bust it out as a promotional tool for a potential dual with Malignaggi. Or maybe the clips were cleverly edited to make McGregor look better, as Malignaggi claimed. Fortunately, it appears as though his next move will be a return to the Octagon.