Earlier this week, former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor released a rather bizarre Tweet that seemed to blame ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong for the UFC’s choice to close down its flyweight division.
You must now take all the 125lbers that have been let go, Chatri.
You talk all of this Martial Art and respect talk, yet your greed has directly cost more than half a fighting division it’s chance to earn income for their family.
Have respect @YODCHATRI.
Sign the division.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 8, 2018
“You must now take all the 125lbers that have been let go, Chatri,” Conor McGregor said to Sityodtong, who recently made waves with a massive signing of former UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson. “You talk all of this Martial Art and respect talk, yet your greed has directly cost more than half a fighting division its chance to earn income for their family. Have respect [Chatri Sityodtong]. Sign the division.”
Given that the UFC’s choice to shut down its flyweight has pretty much nothing to do with Chatri Sityodtong and ONE championship, it came as no surprise when this Tweet from McGregor generated a bit of backlash.
In fact, a number of top MMA stars, including current UFC flyweight champ Henry Cejudo, jumped on their phones to fire back at the Irishman for his seemingly misplaced accusation.
I mean Featherweight survived without @TheNotoriousMMA in it, flyweight can’t survive without @MightyMouse ?? Are you telling us DJ>CM???
— Funky (@Benaskren) November 8, 2018
“I mean featherweight survived without [Conor McGregor] in it, flyweight can’t survive without [Demetrious Johnson]??” Said new UFC welterweight Ben Askren. “Are you telling us DJ>CM???”
https://twitter.com/HenryCejudo/status/1060740394223161344
“Don’t worry about the flyweight division Conor,” said Henry Cejudo, who is likely to enter the history books as the final UFC flyweight champion. “You should worry about your wrestling and grappling skills and your spirit!”
You’re either an hypocrite or cheap whiskey and drugs have affected your mind.
You should blame the @UFC for ending the division, not @ONEChampionship. The UFC could keep the division and DJ if they wanted. You could pressure them, but you don’t really care. Shut up. https://t.co/oGI7clli9H— Patricio Freire (@PatricioPitbull) November 8, 2018
“You’re either a hypocrite or cheap whiskey and drugs have affected your mind,” said Bellator featherweight contender Patricio Freire. “You should blame the [UFC] or ending the division, not [ONE Championship]. The UFC could keep the division and DJ if they wanted. You could pressure them, but you don’t really care. Shut up.”
What do you think of Conor McGregor’s recent dig at Chatri Sityodtong?
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 11/9/2018.