MMA reporter Ariel Helwani has brutally snubbed Conor McGregor from his Mount Rushmore of UFC stars in an online exchange with fans.
McGregor last fought against Dustin Poirer back in 2021 and has a professional record of 22-6-0, with his potential return to the sport earlier this year against Michael Chandler postponed due to injury.
During that time, controversy has once again surrounded the Irish phenomenon with his much-discussed return to the octagon still yet to be decided despite a series of hints over his future.
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But Helwani believes McGregor is not part of the conversation when it comes to the best of the best, drawing criticism from fans in the process for the four fighters he picked ahead of the Irishman.
"The MMA GOAT talk is subjective - even though there’s really only a pool of 3/4 to choose from - but the Mount Rushmore of UFC champions is a very easy one to compile," wrote Helwani on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"In no particular order: Jon Jones, Demetrious Johnson, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva.
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"That’s the 4. Easy. No debate."
McGregor's absence from the list does, on the face of it, seem somewhat harsh given his record and supporters were quick to flock onto social media to back the Dublin-born fighter, insisting Helwani's list was an oversight.
"No one was ever more of a spectacle than McGregor though, people are just afraid to put him on this list because of the backlash they would get from lack of title defences and/or wins," wrote one fan.
"McGregor has to be on the Mount Rushmore, the face of the sport, biggest draw and first double champ," said another.
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Whether McGregor does return to the UFC or not remains to be seen but his influence in taking the sport to the next level is almost impossible to ignore.
Helwani also assured fans of his favourite women's fighters, with another name cheekily added to the list above McGregor too.
"If I could add a 5th it would be Jose Aldo," added the 42-year-old journalist.
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"Women? Also, easy (and again, UFC only).
"Amanda Nunes, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Valentina Shevchenko, Ronda Rousey."
Topics: Conor McGregor, UFC, Ariel Helwani
Matthew Holt