Conor McGregor has sent a lovely message to Carl Frampton ahead of title defence

Conor McGregor respects warriors. He respects the men and women who put it all on the line.

Sure, he may strip you to the bark if you're put on a press conference stage with him but, when it is all said and done, anyone that makes it in the fight game has his respect. This Saturday night, McGregor will find himself in front of the television and he will be keenly watching as Carl Frampton defends his WBA featherweight title against Leo Santa Cruz at Las Vegas' MGM Grand. The pair have long been in touch with each other but, due to their success and hectic schedules of late, have never had a chance to meet. That has not stopped 'The Notorious' from praising 'The Jackal' and vice versa. Ever since McGregor and Floyd Mayweather escalated their cross-over fight trash-talk, just about every boxer has been asked to comment on the UFC lightweight champion and his notions of handing 'Money' his first ever defeat. Frampton is no different and he has had to do a fair share of Mayweather-McGregor talk. He has done it with good grace too: https://youtu.be/dv1dOKPAFvs Frampton also spoke about the support McGregor has shown from him. He has done it in private too - a departure from that flashy persona that so many associate with the Dubliner. Ahead of his world championship fight, Frampton told Joe Callaghan:

"Conor has never been to a fight of mine. But he’s watched me a few times, he’s sent me a few video messages privately just to wish me luck in fights. He’s a good guy. "He has this persona, but he’s playing the game and fair play to him."

This is not the first time we have heard of McGregor the man being streets apart from McGregor the fight-promoter; 'The Notorious'. Whether it is recording congratulatory messages for wedding couples, making a young child's dreams come true by inviting them along to watch him train, posing for numerous photos and signing autographs or the words of support he gave a young Belfast boy late last year, McGregor has not lost touch with where he has come from. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_UK/status/805332068897095680 Catch up with this week's episode of 888sport Football Friday Live