Two weight UFC champion Conor McGregor is the 2016 RTÉ Sport Person of the Year. #rtesportawards https://t.co/2Xksn2Sd2w
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 17, 2016
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight kingpin Conor McGregor, who may or may not hold two of the promotion’s championship titles (depending on who you ask), was named “Sportsperson of the Year” by Irish national broadcasting giant RTE at the RTÉ Sport Awards, in association with Sport Ireland.
McGregor made history earlier this year by capturing the 155-pound strap from Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in New York, a feat accomplished while he was already holding the division crown at 145 pounds.
McGregor reacts to his latest accolade (via RTE.ie):
“Thank you so much to the fans for voting for me for RTE’s ‘Sportsperson of the Year.’ I’m extremely grateful and extremely blessed to have the support of my home country. Thank you RTE as well. I’m sorry I couldn’t make the awards ceremony. You know I love to stick on a good suit and roll into these awards ceremonies and collect an award so I’m a little bit upset about that. Thank you RTE. Thank you to the fans. Thanks so much. It’s been a hell of a year and I look forward to 2017.”
What’s left of 2017.
“Notorious” is expected to miss the first half of his 2017 fight campaign to welcome his first child. During his absence, top lightweight contenders Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson are expected to face off for next crack at the 155-pound crown.
The latter of which may win his own award … for most bizarre trash talk.