“Thanks everyone for coming out. I f**king love every one of yiz, I swear to God. You’ve travelled the world with me. There’s a reason why we’re at the top of the game. Because of me and because of you. I appreciate every single one of yiz.”
Conor McGregor never forgets his fans – they fuel everything he does.
Philadelphia is a 90-minute spin up the I-95 to New York. Eddie Alvarez walked out to the official UFC 205 weigh-ins and was met with a wall of noise.
“Conor, Conor, Conor!”
He must have been expecting something like that but not the roaring, screaming extent. The American fighter getting drowned out by a sea of Irish voices.
“Conor, Conor, CONOR!!!”
The fans love this man. The feeling is mutual.
They will follow McGregor wherever he leads. They see the hard work and sacrifice he puts into making it to the top of the fight game. They are in awe of his dedication.
He is their fighting champion and he lays it all on the line for them.
The first man ever to hold title belts from two different divisions. Those that have tried to do what he has done have failed. McGregor never doubted that he would make history.
“I saw it so clearly, so consistently, until it was here in reality,” he said.
His achievement, in dethroning that “warrior” Eddie Alvarez and claiming the UFC lightweight title belt has been rightly lauded by so many Irish people of the last few hours.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMvxKhBhX0l/?taken-by=jamieheaslip
Greatest Irish sports star of our generation? Ever? And this coming from a man that was an inspiration in the 40-29 win over the bloody All Blacks.
Jamie Heaslip knows his shit. He’s tuned in.
Our major political figures? Haven’t a clue.
"The rich diversity of Vietnamese culture is a great asset for the future, to be cherished and nurtured." pic.twitter.com/FdP9ZtStQQ
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) November 13, 2016
There hasn’t been a glimpse of acknowledgement for the Crumlin fighter since he made history.
As for Enda Kenny… Nothing for a few days now but he was quick off the mark when the rugby lads ended 111 years of hurt in Chicago.
Chicago Cubs win after 108 years.
Ireland win after 111 years.
Mayo to win after 66 years.
Let's do it lads!#IREvNZL
— Enda Kenny (@EndaKennyTD) November 5, 2016
Mixed Martial Arts is still looked down upon.
It has captured the hearts of a demographic that our leaders have also ignored for far too long.
We’ve written before about this shameful snubbing of a true Irish sporting legend but the record has not changed.
Our political leaders have dug their heels in and are not for turning.
Perhaps if he wins a third UFC belt, they’ll use a few of their allocated 140 characters to tweet a ‘well done’…
So it’s up to the every-man and every-woman to tell McGregor he made us bloody proud. He’d much prefer it that way.
He’s one of us.
I'd mix abit of mortar for it anyway #legend #ufc205 pic.twitter.com/l57Vjrih0I
— Rory's Stories (@RorysStories) November 13, 2016
The GAA Hour chats to Ballyea sensation Tony Kelly and features a raging argument over which road you should take from Clare to Wexford. Subscribe here on iTunes.
