Conor McGregor is undoubtedly Ireland's most famous sports star, but is he even the best combat-sports athlete to currently grace these shores?
Speaking on Jarlath Regan's An Irishman Abroad podcast, The Irish Times journalist Dave Hannigan (who has been openly critical of the hype around McGregor in the past) claimed a former world boxing champion has achieved more than McGregor in recent years.
When asked about his criticisms of the UFC Lightweight Champion, the American-based journalist's focus turned to Carl Frampton. The Belfast fighter is a two-weight World Champion, who was unbeaten until losing to Leo Santa Cruz in January.
My criticism of McGregor, as I would criticise anyone - I cannot stand hype and exaggeration, being used to foist anything upon us
The David Beckham thing - If you go back ten or 15 years, that disgusted me. The fifth or sixth-best player on the Man United team was sold to the World as the greatest player in the World. Obviously people who knew football didn't believe that, but lots of people did and that sickened me as much as the McGregor thing sickens me.
I look at someone like Carl Frampton, to take a boxing example. He has achieved a lot more in a sport with a much greater history, but it's a sport that has not done a good job in selling itself. Frampton pales into comparison to McGregor.
Hannigan's views on the McGregor and the UFC in general are well worth listening to in the podcast, but his comments on the Dubliner's hesitance to re-enter the Octagon, is not a view popularly held.
Here is what I struggle with with the whole Mayweather thing for the last year. I was at McGregor's fight in November in Madison Square Garden. Since then, what has struck me - yes, he said he was going to take time off for the birth of his child, and that's perfectly ok.
What gets me is the complete lack of outcry from UFC fans about McGregor taking a year out from his prime to pursue this Mayweather nonsense. Where is the outcry? 'Why is he not fighting such and such? Why is he not defending his title against this guy? Wouldn't you love to see him against this guy over here?'
There's no outcry about him going away from his sport to fight in this circus act. In boxing, people would be saying; 'We want him to fight the next guy in line'.
After defeating Eddie Alvarez in November, McGregor announced he was going to take time off for the birth of his first child. His son was born in May, but a return to the UFC has not followed.
It could be a year between MMA bouts for McGregor if he fights again in the Octagon after his professional boxing debut, yet very little has been said about it.
You can listen to the fascinating interview here.
