It bewilders people in Ireland how this small country of ours has suddenly produced out of nowhere this global martial arts phenomenon. 'The fighting Irish' tag was earned on the streets of the Bronx rather than on the mat or in the ring. We remained neutral during World War 2 for heavens sakes. Most have never wrestled and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was unheard of growing up. There are sprinklings of boxing clubs scattered around the inner city projects which have won us the odd Olympic medal.Bruce Lee movies were the only portal to martial arts as people flooded out of the country rather than in. The Irish can however talk,storytelling and wit are very much part of Irish Life. McGregor has the deadly combination of American confidence and a fast Irish tongue. How this guy can one day walk off a building site on the outskirts of Dublin where he worked as a plumbing apprentice and decide to rule the martial arts world is the real story here, all the ripe old age of 19. His mind and obsessive traits are his real weapon. The gorilla on his chest which is eating a heart is a powerful symbol of his mental strength.
He has as he says himself the whole game sewn up. He graduated from the Floyd Mayweather school of the fight business by acquiring love and instilling hate. He is a polarizing character who portrayed obscene wealth while he was still living upstairs in his parents home. If you build it they will come. Nobody builds it like McGregor. When Dana White first heard of 'The notorious one' he was impressed by his gift of the gab. He thought if he can fight at all he was going to make them alot of money. The match makers were protecting him form the 'wolves' early on in his UFC career to McGregors dismay, 'I am a wolf' he would tell them. His rise has been dramatic and exciting.As is often the case with McGregor his last performance has been his most impressive.