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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion, Conor McGregor, will continue to fight in the absence of mixed martial arts (MMA) events. His latest opponent? The coronavirus pandemic that has shut down most parts of the world.
McGregor used the power of social media to call upon legislators to act, arguing that preventive measures — such as a nationwide lockdown — can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and spare his countrymen some of the pain suffered by neighboring territories.
“I know a good, tough fight when I see one, and we have one on our hands now,” McGregor said. “I want to call upon my people, the great people of Ireland. This fight needs us all. We’re all in the red corner together, awaiting the bell. Let’s gather together and ring the bell ourselves, including the people of the rest of the world. A true lockdown must begin, and it must begin now. A true lockdown together, a lockdown united.”
Most of the sports world has been put on hold to keep its fans and athletes safe; however, UFC President Dana White is currently cooking up a plan to stage UFC 249 behind closed doors in order to deliver the Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson title fight, with the winner moving on to (possibly) face McGregor.
“We have the advantage here in that we can see this coming,” McGregor continued. “We can see this coming, but if we do not act on our advantage, we cannot expect different results. Ireland, we’ve got this. Not only do we have the formula, we have it ahead of time. Let’s go, Ireland. Let’s go, rest of the world. Lock down united. Together we stand. God bless us all.”
McGregor has been outspoken about the spread of coronavirus since losing his aunt just a few weeks back. And while his idea for a nationwide lockdown is not without merit, there are regular folks who do not have the money or the means to stay shuttered for two weeks (or more) at a time.