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Conor McGregor sends cryptic message of support to US during election

Irish UFC fighter posts a religious-based tweet aimed at uniting the US as the election continues to divide the nation

Jack de Menezes
Sports News Correspondent
Friday 06 November 2020 09:40 GMT
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Conor McGregor posted a cryptic tweet to the United States of America as the presidential election battle headed into a third day of vote counting, with Donald Trump predicted to lose control of the White House to Joe Biden.

The UFC fighter posted a religious-based message overnight on his Twitter profile, and rather than show any support for either candidate, the Irishman instead expressed his love for the country itself, where he has made the bulk of his financial wealth through his career in Mixed Martial Arts.

But his appeal for God to “guide (America) through the night” comes at a time when there is great division in the US, with riots and violence feared upon the result of the ongoing election as numerous businesses shut down this week and boarded up properties in an effort to prevent damages.

McGregor said: “God bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above.”

McGregor has been tight-lipped on the US presidential election race that has gripped the world, despite previously tweeting his admiration for Trump towards the start of his run in office.

The UFC has close ties with Trump after going to great lengths to campaign for his re-election, with the MMA organisation’s president Dana White a close and loyal friend of the US President of nearly 20 years.

Speaking at the Republican National Convention earlier this year, White said: “President Trump built the greatest economy in our nation’s history and created opportunities for all Americans like no one before him.

“Financial markets hit all time highs; unemployment hit all-time lows, and we weren’t facing the lawless destruction that now is occurring in a few of our great cities.”

Trump also praised a number of UFC fighters who were in attendance at his ‘Great American Comeback’ rally in Henderson, Nevada, where Henry Cejudo, Colby Covington, Justin Gaetje and manager Ali Abdelaziz were all among the crowd.

“These are not people you want to pick a fight with because under those beautiful suits, there’s a lot of muscle, a lot of power, a lot of genius for fighting, and for other things,” Trump said.

McGregor has been at odds with White and the UFC of late, with the Dubliner revealing on his Twitter page that he was done with the company after his offer to fight four times in the space of a year was ignored.

“After being ignored on the three dates I put forward. (Three consecutive dates I might add! Would have had me at four fights this calendar year) Followed then by being sidelined because no crowds in attendance, I said f*** this and bounced. Four fights this era = 6m PPV buys. How much lost?” McGregor said earlier this week.

However, he remains in training for a comeback fight and looks set to take on American Dustin Poirier in the near future in what will be his first fight since the January victory over Donald Cerrone.

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