However, McGregor is also the sport’s most controversial figure. It divides and is hated as much as it is loved. Many find it interesting and attractive, but just as many find it unbearable. But whether people love it or hate it, they can’t stop watching it. And here are the main reasons:
Success in the octagon and reluctance to defend the title
To be polarizing, McGregor has to do things he’s both loved and hated for. The Irishman has no shortage of them, especially when it comes to his tenure as UFC featherweight and lightweight champion. Many fans rave about his featherweight wins, especially celebrating his historic 13-second knockout over Jose Aldo.
However, detractors often see Conor’s win as a fluke. Additionally, he is often criticized for never defending any of the titles he won and for leaving entire divisions in limbo after winning the UFC belt.
At lightweight, many fans are celebrating his near-perfect victory over Eddie Alvarez. At the same time, Conor McGregor rose to the throne as the first two-division UFC champion. Some fans, however, dismiss the feat, saying fighters were previously denied the chance to hold two belts at the same time, and also pointing out that McGregor never defended his title.
Surge current
The version of Conor McGregor declaring war on the UFC featherweight division and his version after the boxing match with Floyd Mayweather are very different in many ways. And the main difference is the waste stream.
At first, the Irishman’s trash talk was more witty and his demeanor was calmer. He was excellent at verbalizing his opponents, focusing on his attitude towards their weak martial skills compared to his own. This drew considerable attention from fans, who found his pre-fight antics entertaining and exciting.
His trash talk was unrivaled as it was somewhat based on reality and even contained humor. Now, however, his trash talk is different. McGregor began to move on to personal insults towards his opponents, and even moved on to family and religion.
His gossip about religion and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s late father, as well as his threats against Dustin Poirier’s family, have many fans accusing Conor of going too far.
Trouble with the law has ruined McGregor’s image
While his success in the octagon and thrash talk has helped the Irishman win countless fans, one of the things that makes him particularly controversial is his run-ins with the law. Many fans still support McGregor, but others have turned their backs on Conor due to his numerous legal issues as he is no stranger to arrests.
His famous bus attack, which injured several fighters and forced them to pull out of their scheduled fights, led to his first notable arrest. Even Dana White criticized the Irishman’s trick. However, his subsequent issues further damaged his image, particularly after punching an older man in a Dublin bar.
After MacGregor repeatedly offered the man a picture of his No. Twelve and was refused, in response he punched the man with his fist. He is also the subject of various sexual harassment allegations and all of his legal troubles are causing many fans to turn their backs on him.
Some, however, continue to back McGregor in what they see as the start of one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.
love ireland
If there’s one thing Conor McGregor has done that has earned him huge support, as opposed to the amount of hate he’s getting, it’s put Ireland on the MMA map. Although there were Irish MMA fighters before him, no one has brought the sport more attention than McGregor.
Plus, no one was as proud of his Irish roots as Conor. He influenced countless of his countrymen to take an interest in MMA, and many of them became fighters and fans of the sport, which was once just an epidemic in Ireland.
He even encouraged many Americans to search his family history for Irish roots simply because of his popularity. They all wanted to be Irish because Conor McGregor is Irish. So, despite having detractors, the first two-time UFC champion enjoys the support of his country like no other.
Rivalries with Nate Diaz and Khabib Nurmagomedov
There is another MMA fanbase that rivals, if not equals, the fervor of Conor McGregor’s Irish fans. Nate Diaz has some of the most dedicated fans in the sport. Whether Diaz wins or loses, Nate is immensely supported.
The Irishman’s two fights with Diaz and their ensuing feud made him a target for American fans, with many pointing out that McGregor was beaten in their first fight and only defeated in a rematch by a dubious arbitration decision.
Meanwhile, McGregor fans claim it was Conor who lifted Diaz’s popularity and made him a superstar and a millionaire.
The same sentiments are shared by McGregor fans about Nurmagomedov, whose own fanbase fervently hates Conor for his vicious Khabib talk.
The fact that McGregor is getting a lot of backlash from fans of two other MMA stars, while his own fans claim it was Conor who made the two fighters into real MMA stars, is one of the main reasons why the Irishman is such a controversial figure.
Vyacheslav Gorbachev, Athletistic
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Source: Sport
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
