A weird web: Conor McGregor and the Olympics
As a long-time gamer and avid MMA fan, I can’t help but be intrigued by the what-ifs surrounding Conor McGregor and the Olympics. The image of him standing in an Olympic arena, representing his country in martial arts, seems like an unlikely yet thrilling scenario. But based on McGregor’s history of cryptic tweets and unexpected moves, I wouldn’t rule it out completely.
Conor McGregor and the Olympics seem like an unlikely match, given that MMA isn’t included in the Games yet. However, there’s a hint that McGregor came close to participating in the Olympic Games. An old tweet from the UFC fighter suggests this possibility.
As a longtime fan of mixed martial arts and Conor McGregor in particular, I’ve followed his every move both inside and outside the octagon with great interest. And while I’ve come to expect the Irish fighter’s flamboyant social media presence, some of his tweets have left me pondering their deeper meaning.
In June 2020, McGregor declared another departure from mixed martial arts due to growing tensions with the UFC during the pandemic. However, by August, he mentioned his plans for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and shared his expertise in various sports.
Next year at this time, the Tokyo Olympics will feature competitions in judo, wrestling, karate, taekwondo, and boxing – sports I am familiar with. However, this will only occur if we have overcome the virus by then. It’s crucial that we all take necessary actions to make that happen.
In approximately one year, the Tokyo Olympics will feature competitions in sports that I’m familiar with: judo, wrestling, karate, taekwondo, and boxing. This will occur if we have successfully overcome the virus by then – let’s all work towards making that happen!
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 3, 2020
For someone unfamiliar with McGregor’s history, the tweet might appear as simple excitement for the upcoming event. But experienced fans, who are accustomed to McGregor’s cryptic messages about future plans hidden within his social media posts and public statements, started speculating if McGregor intended to join in himself.
“Do you intend to represent Ireland in a competition?” or “Are you planning on competing for the Irish team?”
Several Olympic medalists have found success in MMA after making the transition. Notable examples include Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo, and Ronda Rousey, who brought their exceptional athletic abilities to the UFC cage and accomplished remarkable feats during their tenures.
After McGregor announced his retirement and considering his history of venturing into new areas, it wasn’t a shocking suggestion, given Dana White’s past comments on the topic.
In an interview on UFC Unfiltered in the year 2016, the UFC CEO expressed his intention to bring MMA into the Olympics within the next “few years,” at the latest.
My team and I have been dedicating considerable effort to this project for approximately four to five years. We remain optimistic about its realization. In due time, it will come to fruition. The question lies in determining the ideal moment and investment of resources. Despite fans’ anticipation, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Regardless, we hold onto hope that this is an exception rather than the rule. However, Conor McGregor’s tweet, while filled with determination, proved to be another enigmatic statement from him.
McGregor chose not to retire from UFC despite initial plans, instead participating in two bouts against Dustin Poirier, which he lost on each occasion. In one of these fights, he suffered a broken leg and took a three-year break from competition. After much anticipation, the highly-publicized match with Michael Chandler was scheduled for UFC 303. However, McGregor had to withdraw due to an injured toe.
Michael Chandler’s return date is uncertain, even for UFC officials, leaving fans feeling helpless and sympathetic towards him.
Does MMA belong in the Olympics?
Is it more appropriate for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) to become an Olympic sport or not? This question has sparked much discussion and varying perspectives throughout the years. Initially viewed as a controversial “cage fighting” sport, MMA has seen a significant surge in acceptance due to the dedication of organizations like UFC, PFL, Bellator, ONE Championship, and others.
As a passionate fan, I’ve noticed how MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) has gained massive popularity lately. With stars like Sydney Sweeney and Mark Zuckerberg endorsing it, this sport has become almost mainstream, attracting millions of viewers worldwide. Yet, it hasn’t made it to the Olympics just yet. I’ve heard rumors that MMA would be included in the 2024 Summer Olympics lineup, especially since break dancing was added. But unfortunately, those plans didn’t materialize.
I strongly believe that MMA should definitely be included in the Olympics based on what many influential figures in the industry, such as Dana White and Joe Rogan, have to say about it.
In a 2022 Q&A session before UFC 275, White discussed the topic of MMA becoming an Olympic sport during his conversation with Laura Sanko, but with noticeably less excitement than in 2016. When asked about it by a fan, White responded, “I believe it ought to be an Olympic event by now. It’s not my role, and it’s not something I’m pursuing. I don’t plan on turning this into an Olympic sport.”
White expressed his conviction that incorporating Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) into the Olympic games could help address a major issue the Olympics have encountered in the past few years: low television ratings. In simpler terms, “White thinks including MMA in the Olympics would bring more viewers.”
Joe Rogan was also of the idea that MMA is close to getting included in the Olympics back in 2018.
Although many people are optimistic, no definite talks have taken place regarding the inclusion of MMA in the Olympics. The sport’s perceived brutality and violence hinder its acceptance, and it remains illegal in various countries. Furthermore, with approximately 70 nations required for Olympic recognition, widespread participation appears unlikely at this time.
At the 2024 Summer Olympics, boxing, judo, taekwondo, and wrestling will be included in the combat sports category. Regrettably, karate will not make an appearance. It was excluded from the bids following its impressive debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games. According to Reuters, organizers felt that “the sport didn’t provide enough excitement and wasn’t able to draw in a younger demographic.”
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2024-07-18 04:13