UFC interim featherweight champion Conor McGregor went on a social media rant on Thursday after being accused of selling out the Irish people for wearing a remembrance poppy.
A remembrance poppy is worn to commemorate soldiers who have died in combat. They’re used in many nations, but are most common in the United Kingdom and Canada. They’re controversial in Northern Ireland, where most Irish nationalists and Irish Catholics refuse to wear them because of the actions of the British Army during the Troubles, also known as the Northern Ireland Conflict.
Shortly after McGregor’s Irish loyalties were questioned, the 27-year-old posted a reply on Facebook:
“I know where my allegiance lies and what I do for my country. I don’t need a stupid little flower with a 100 different meanings to tell me if I do or do not represent my country.
“Check the facts of its original meaning. ALL soldiers. ALL wars.
“I have the blood of many nations on my gloves. Fought and beat on the world stage. ?You have a pint in your hand and a Celtic jersey on in your local. F**k you and the Queen.”
He later took to Twitter with further comments:
Fuck politics and fuck religion. I just want to swing a few lefts and a few rights for a couple of hundred mill in peace. — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 29, 2015
McGregor faces champion Jose Aldo in the UFC 194 main event in a title unification bout on Dec. 12 in Las Vegas. As usual, when “The Notorious” makes his walk to the octagon, he’ll be proudly displaying the flag of Ireland.
