Although UFC superstar Conor McGregor is, in the main, adored by the Irish, John Paul O’Malley, a columnist for the Irish Independent, clearly isn’t a huge fan of the featherweight champion.
In an intriguing piece, O’Malley pondered the question as to whether Notorious is a “sporting genius or corporate sellout,” running through McGregor’s ascension with a fine tooth comb. And while there are some positive words said about the fighter, there are lots of questions asked about him too:
McGregor appears to be devoid of any kind of moral compass; a trait one usually expects from a successful global athlete of his stature.
Even Roy Keane—another Irish sporting legend with a gigantic ego—at the height of his playing career at Manchester United and for Ireland, had some sense of loyalty or commitment to something greater than just himself and his pay cheque.
McGregor, however, possesses no such qualities. His one true loyalty is to money and material wealth.
O’Malley noted a succession of occasions when the Irishman has made it clear money is his primary motivator, including the time he bellowed “Sixty Gs, baby” at the camera following a win over Marcus Brimage and his reference to the $10.1 million revenue after his most recent triumph against Jose Aldo.
The piece also hit out at some of McGregor’s trash talk in the build-up to fights: “For example, he's arrogantly joked in one press conference that ‘three people died’ making the diamond-encrusted gold pocket watch that he wears with pride; and he's referred to his opponent, Jose Aldo, as a ‘little Brazilian,’ mocking the poverty Aldo grew up in.”
The time McGregor snatched Aldo's belt at a promotional press conference was also mentioned. Here's a reminder of that remarkable moment:
Additionally, O’Malley is worried about the example McGregor, despite his sporting success, is setting to the next generation in Ireland.
“If you're an ambitious 10-year-old-boy, sitting up late at night, watching an Irish man dominate the global stage, and fighting like an undefeated gladiator, of course your big dream will be to become the next UFC star,” he wrote. “And you'll sure as hell want to talk, think and act like your newfound god-like hero.”
Indeed, O'Malley added: "The paddywhackery "Oirish" card McGregor constantly plays—to enhance his image in United States—is as embarrassing as it is ridiculous."
McGregor, as is evident in this piece, certainly isn’t to everyone’s taste. While fans flocked to Las Vegas to see him beat Aldo at UFC 194 in December, for some, he can be grating and obnoxious.
Bleacher Report’s MMA writer Jeremy Botter feels as though McGregor is a manic character, although that’s not necessarily a negative:
He’s been involved in some admirable initiatives; just last year the fighter confirmed he would be donating €50,000 to Ireland’s homeless charities.
He’s also ambitious too. McGregor is set to move up a division to face Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 196 for the lightweight title; if he wins the bout he’ll be the first fighter in UFC history to hold two belts from separate weight classes at the same time.
And while he can come out with some crass statements in the build-up to fights, typically once they’re done the Irishman behaves in a much more civilised way. Indeed, despite the build-up to his bout with Aldo being bitter, he referred to the Brazilian as a “great champion” in the aftermath on Instagram.
Ultimately, when forming a view of McGregor, much depends on whether you feel he's being sincere prior to fights or in the aftermath when the hysteria has lifted. For many, a post-fight front means such brash words are acceptable, for others it’s not.
Perhaps a loss will humble him later in his career, but for as long as McGregor continues to win fights, the Irishman will preserve his bullish persona.
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