As always Joe Brolly has got people talking.
His Sunday Independent column reacting to the death of Joao Carvalho following an MMA fight in Dublin last weekend has divided opinion.
Many seem to agree with the Sunday Game pundit’s view that the sport – along with professional boxing – should be outlawed.
However others were enraged by his depiction of MMA and the insinuation that Conor McGregor -who attended the fight that cost Carvalho his life – was insensitively cheering as the young Portuguese man suffered.
Particularly as McGregor, when interviewed after the fight, expressed the opinion he thought it could have been stopped earlier.
Others were put out by the fact the column largely discussed boxing but condemned MMA.
@JoeBrolly1993 equally, zero reference to the sport of MMA, just boxing is bad, ban MMA
— Barry Oglesby (@barryoglesby) April 17, 2016
@JoeBrolly1993 you could have at least done some research on mma before writing that rubbish article. #doyourresearch
— Paul Keating. (@pauliek85) April 17, 2016
Lots of people were wholeheartedly behind the controversial columnist.
@JoeBrolly1993 super article today Joe. I'd be a boxing fan but it gets harder all the time. MMA is a disgrace. Have said that all along..
— Mark Connolly (@markdconnolly) April 17, 2016
@NiallEarls a good read and @JoeBrolly1993 really has raised some very valid points backed up with very good real life examples
— Kieran Coffey (@Kierantcoff) April 17, 2016
@JoeBrolly1993 first time I have ever agreed with you, good article today
— noreen (@nyallw) April 17, 2016
Just as many people were really, really angry.
https://twitter.com/glenn9oo/status/721410169826066432
@JoeBrolly1993 you should stick to that failing sport of the GAA. Plenty other sports where athletes are killed? Care to comment on them?
— mstan (@mstankard) April 17, 2016
@JoeBrolly1993 you know fuck all about football and even less about MMA. Smh.
— Yolo Swaggins (@McNurofen91) April 17, 2016
@JoeBrolly1993 you could have at least done some research on mma before writing that rubbish article. #doyourresearch
— Paul Keating. (@pauliek85) April 17, 2016
But it was the opening remarks about McGregor “beating his chest” that attracted most ire.
@JoeBrolly1993 the"beating his chest" reference to @TheNotoriousMMA is appalling though, basically accusing him of celebrating death
— Barry Oglesby (@barryoglesby) April 17, 2016
@JoeBrolly1993 Carvalho only became ill after the event. McGregor was not to know. To imply that he celebrated the death is a terrible slur
— Barry Oglesby (@barryoglesby) April 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/BSHistory77/status/721773364759687172
@JoeBrolly1993 mc Gregor had nothing to do with that poor man. Perhaps you should stick to your job..talking shite about gaa.
— Barry O Reilly (@RandyJohnsen) April 17, 2016
@JoeBrolly1993 Agree with a lot of your Sindo piece on MMA, Joe, but felt the McGregor comments were gratuitous and spurious
— Paul Morrissey (@Paul_Morrissey) April 17, 2016
