The country of Ireland appears to be on the fence when it comes to how they feel about UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor.
Half of the country, primarily those who are younger, adore the popular UFC star, while the older generation appears to loathe his cockiness.
Sean McGoldrick, who writes for the Sunday World, a newspaper in Ireland, told Bleacher Report why McGregor is a controversial athlete in the country.
“He has utterly divided Irish society, not along socioeconomic grounds, but by age,” McGoldrick said. “We like our sports stars to be humble.”
Bleacher Report also talked to two other Irish people and asked them their thoughts on McGregor.
“(McGregor) is playing what people think an Irishman is. It’s not very Irish at all,” an Irishman in his early 40s said.
“He doesn’t represent us in the best way,” said another Irishman.
However, if you look at the crowd during a McGregor fight, many Irish people are willing to travel across the world to watch one of their own take over the combat sports world. No matter what city McGregor fights in, the Irish take over.
In his next fight, McGregor will make his professional boxing debut. On Aug. 26, McGregor will fight Floyd “Money” Mayweather at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
