In what is a massive step forward in terms of MMA’s progress into the mainstream, Conor McGregor has been announced as RTÉ Sports Person of the Year.
‘The Notorious’ received the award on Saturday night after a momentous year which saw him become the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two different weight classes simultaneously.
McGregor stopped Eddie Alvarez in the main event of UFC 205 to add the UFC lightweight title to the featherweight crown he claimed last December.
https://twitter.com/RTEsport/status/810261523956281344
McGregor has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the pinnacle of MMA, having made significant headway in terms of boosting the previously niche and underground sport’s popularity and is a deserving winner of the prize.
There was stiff competition for the award with the likes of Olympic Silver medallist and World Championship Gold medallist Paul O’Donovan, World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Jamie Heaslip and Carl Frampton, who became just the second ever Irishman to hold world titles in two different weight classes in boxing.
Seamus Callanan, Eoghan Clifford, Brian Fenton, Denise Gaule, Daryl Horgan, Annalise Murphy, Bríd Stack and Katie George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal were also in contention.
"Scheme" https://t.co/0xZSEt6hAt
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) December 10, 2016
But it was the Octagon’s biggest draw that won out.
“Thank you so much to the fans for voting for me for RTÉ’s Sports Person of the Year,” McGregor said from Los Angeles.
“I’m extremely grateful and extremely blessed to have the support of my home country.
“Thank you RTÉ as well. I’m sorry I couldn’t make the awards ceremony. You know I love to stick on a good suit and roll into these awards ceremonies and collect an award so I’m a little bit upset about that.
“Thank you RTÉ. Thank you to the fans. Thanks so much. It’s been a hell of a year and I look forward to 2017.”
