He’s never going to win a popularity contest among his fellow fighters.
But we doubt any man who was in Las Vegas last night to see Conor McGregor pick up the Fighters Only MMA Fighter of the Year award was expecting to be called a bum by the UFC featherweight champion.
‘The Notorious’ was not available to pick up his gong in person as he is busy putting in rounds in his training camp ahead of his lightweight title showdown with Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 196.
But the Irishman kindly recorded a video that stole the show.
McGregor picked up the prize for his three victories in 2015 over Dennis Siver, Chad Mendes and Jose Aldo, and there truly was no other contender that could have been awarded the mantelpiece dust-gatherer.
And in his acceptance speech, he wasn’t about to show much love for his fellow sloggers inside the octagon as he slammed everyone else’s motivation, claiming he was single-handedly keeping the industry afloat.
“I apologize for not being there. There’s another man that must be slain, another champion that must be dethroned. There’s more numbers that need to be broken. I need to feed all you bums. I need to feed every single one of yous in the game, so I’ve got to keep working, because yous bums don’t work.”
The speech, captured by Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter, shows the Irishman then picking a fight with yet another Brazilian.
Once McGregor had gotten warmed up, he decided to re-ignite his current war-of-words with Fabricio Werdum, as he criticised the UFC heavyweight champion for pulling out of his title defence which had been scheduled for this weekend.
Werdum was due to fight at the event formerly known as UFC 196 but withdrew two weeks ago, citing foot and back injuries.
The Dubliner wasn’t feeling much sympathy for the Kings MMA product.
“You got the heavyweight champion, who’s a pussy, pulling out with a sore toe. How is the heavyweight champion going to pull out with a sore toe? What kind of champion is that? The game is on its knees, so I apologize I can’t be there at the awards, but I am out here putting it in, working, putting in the true work, the work it takes to keep every one of yous fed.
“So thank you, and thank me.”
Youtube: Jeremy Botter
