Conor McGregor has provoked further controversy as he questioned the Irish identity of mixed martial arts fighter Paul Hughes, who is from Derry.
A stream of messages on social media, including a reference to “up there”, followed Hughes' narrow defeat in a world title fight in Dubai.
Dubliner McGregor, found civilly liable in December for sexually assaulting a woman in December, appeared to take offence to comments made by Lavey man Hughes following the lightweight bout with Usman Nurmagomedov.
Following the fight, 36-year-old Hughes is heard to say: “I’m not like this other guy. I’m my own man.” It was widely interpreted as referring to McGregor.
McGregor was quick to respond on social media, first posting: “Too right, you’re not.”
It then escalated, including to question Hughes' right to drape himself in, or otherwise display, the Irish flag. He posted and erased several messages.
One read: “Get that flag off you you little know what you are c*** from up there.”
McGregor further wrote: “Up the real Irish.”
Hughes responded that always said McGregor was “the goat, payed homage at every opportunity”. GOAT refers to ‘greatest of all time’ in the cage fighting world.
The Derry man added: “But coming at my Irish identity just shows where your head is at.”
McGregor may also have taken exception to Hughes' respectful attitude towards his opponent following the fight on Saturday.
Nurmagomedov’s cousin, Khabib. is a former world champion who defeated McGregor in 2018 in the United States.
McGregor later tweeted more conciliatory words towards Derry but continued to attack Hughes.
“DERRY IS IRELAND!”, he posted.
“It is not true Irish behavior to grovel at the hands of someone who has disrespected your nation’s flag and is playing a game right in your face as you bow and kiss feet. I am so embarrassed for him caught like that.”
Following Saturday’s fight, Hughes was praised by his opponent’s team, to which the Irishman responded: “Thank you, Khabib. I have great respect for you, your team, and your nation.”
He later added on social media: “I would be honoured to take you up on this offer someday and then return the favour in Ireland.”
Hughes, who trains at Fight Academy Ireland in west Belfast, believes he won the fight on Saturday, and the judges were wrong.
“I think the judges’ scorecards were pretty ridiculous, but as I say, I’ll watch it back with a clear mind. I’m just judging from the energy of the arena and everyone surrounding the cage. I thought it was mine,” he said.
“I’m not going to make excuses though. I should’ve pushed harder. I should’ve pushed harder and I will the next time. I know we’ll fight again.”
