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The Conor McGregor backlash has already begun

Some people are not happy with McGregor being billed as ‘The Irish Muhammad Ali’.

Jan 19th 2015, 10:04 AM 24,029 Views 33 Comments

HE MAY NOW be one of the country’s most respected athletes, but a small cohort of UFC fans have already started to turn against Conor McGregor.

Last night, McGregor beat Russian/German fighter Dennis Siver in Boston, in a bout that was heavily promoted on US TV with ads calling McGregor ‘The Irish Muhammad Ali’.

UFC Fight Night Boston Source: AP/Press Association Images

UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta also hasn’t been shy with the comparison, saying McGregor’s “gift of the gab and his fighting ability” made him like Ali.

Fox Sports presenters in the US seemed to pick up on this and ran with it – and both American viewers and Irish UFC fans are irritated by the new moniker:

Some conceded that McGregor has talent, but still held no truck with the comparison:

While some were just unequivocal in their dismissal of the athlete:

McGregor himself has said he doesn’t want to be compared to Ali, telling ESPN that though he is honoured by the comments, the legendary fighter is “special”.

Let’s see if he can shake it off before he fights the UFC champion Jose Aldo in Las Vegas in May.

Read: McGregor brushes Siver aside to set up a UFC title bout with Jose Aldo>

About the author:

About the author
Valerie Loftus
@valerieloftus
valerie@dailyedge.ie

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