Scully Fitness, a gym in Galway, Ireland paints over a Conor McGregor mural imprinted on its walls since 2016. Gary Scully the owner of the gym said that McGregor is “no longer a role model to the general public” after the Dublin court found that the UFC fighter assaulted Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. Since then, McGregor’s reputation has taken a hit with many businesses distancing themselves from the Irishman and there has been strong opposition to him in his homeland.

The court ordered ‘The Notorious’ to pay nearly $͏26͏3,000 in damag͏es to Hand and then saw many brands spring into action against him. Hundreds of retail stores across the UK and Ireland removed products associated with him. from their shelves. Proximo Spirits, the company that bought McGregor’s Proper No Twelve whiskey brand in 2021, dropped him from marketing, and JD Wetherspoon, a prominent pub chain, removed McGregor’s Forged Irish Stout from all seven of its locations in Ireland.

Amidst the uproar, reports have emerged that the country whose flag McGregor proudly carried into his fights may no longer feel like home for the fighter. Why? According to a recent report shared by the Irish Times, “Conor McGregor feels betrayed after losing his civil court case for s—- assault in Ireland and has plans to move to the United States.”

McGregor, who built his UFC persona around patriotism and pride also saw Ireland’s National Wax Museum remove its figure of the MMA fighter weeks ago. His woes aren’t limited to businesses in Ireland. Video game publisher IO Interactive also announced it would scrub McGregor from its Hitman: World of Assassination franchise, where he was featured as an adversary. 

Another report by the Irish Mirror shares the reason behind McGregor wanting to move away from Ireland, at least for some time. “Conor has been completely rattled by the devastating fallout as a result of losing the civil case. He is going to appeal the verdict to clear his name. He is genuinely very upset by it all and the manner in which he feels he has been betrayed.

But the commercial damage in Britain and Ireland has been massive with retailers refusing to sell his stout and Proper No 12 whiskey. However, the court case has not been as damaging commercially in the United States where most of his fans are standing by him. He wants out of Ireland for the moment and to move back to the States.”

Well, perhaps the opposition to McGregor in the US may not be as vociferous as compared to his homeland, but the assumption that many of his fans are still standing with him, may also be a little far-fetched, at least going by what the social media is telling us.

The news about McGregor thinking of moving to the US was shared on Instagram by MMA Uncensored with the caption posing an intriguing question for the fandom, “Will Conor McGregor move to the United States.”

Celebrated for his marketability and superstar status in the US, McGregor faced backlash from a section of American fans in the comment section of the post. It appears they aren’t too keen on ‘The Notorious’ landing on their shores either. Here’s a look at what the netizens had to say!

Conor McGregor’s reported move across the Atlantic doesn’t find favor with the fandom online

McGregor also faced a fresh blow in the case after the judge ordered him to pay the entire legal costs, estimated at $1.75 million. Though the former UFC double champion has said he intends to appeal the decision, his current predicament has put him in a tough spot.

Fans pointed out that the reports suggesting a move to America for Conor McGregor mark a striking turn for the athlete who, not too long ago, floated the idea of running for the Irish presidency. In a fiery tirade earlier this year, McGregor took to X and shared, “As president, I hold the power to summon the Dail as well as dissolve it, So as I said before, I would have all the answers the people of Ireland seek from these thieves of the working man, these disrupters of the family unit, these destructors of small businesses, and on and on and on!”

Keeping this in mind, a fan mentioned, “Didnt he want to run for PRESIDENT just a lil time back? Crazy how times and people change.”

Other fans were more blunt in their responses and indicated that they weren’t on board with the idea of Conor McGregor coming to America. According to the Irish Mirror, McGregor currently owns an apartment in Las Vegas but may be considering a move to Florida instead. “Bruh, we don’t want you here,” wrote one fan.

Some reactions were even harsher as the fans held nothing back when it came to the idea of the Irishman making a move across the Atlantic. As per the reports the Irish MMA icon and his partner, Dee Devlin, along with their kids are still in Ireland but are looking for a fresh start. Devlin had also passionately defended her husband when the verdict came out first. 

Taking to her Instagram stories, Devlin called out Hand writing, “CCTV DOES NOT LIE. I look forward the day the world will see the footage of you on that night and the carry on of you. Not a bother of you having the time of your life. This is the real evidence, video footage no one knew was being taken in the moment which you miraculously don’t remember? To me it looks like you’re the one sexually assaulting in the lift. To me it looks like everyone is trying to get away from you. To me, it looks like everyone is trying to get away from you.”

However, there seems to be little sympathy for McGregor among some people in the US. A user wrote, “Nope we don’t want more trash here.”

For others, his controversies have overshadowed his accomplishments, leaving a bitter taste in their mouths as they implored him to “stay” where he is. A user wrote, “Stay where you are bud.”

But amidst the backlash, there was a glimmer of hope. One fan pointed out that despite the fall from grace, there is no denying the fact that Conor McGregor put Ireland on the map when it comes to combat sports, or as the fans put it, “more than any athlete”.  In fact, even when you look at the highest-selling UFC PPVs of all time, ‘The Notorious’ dominates the list more than any other name in the promotion’s history.

“Tbf you gotta actually feel for him in this instance. Despite whatever’s happened. He really represented the country with the most pride, probably more than any athlete,” one fan wrote in the comment section.

To wrap things up, the backlash from fans underscores the divide in how ‘The Notorious’ is perceived today. While many see his controversies as a reason to shut the door on his next chapter, few recognize his undeniable contributions to combat sports and his homeland’s global reputation.

Perhaps Conor McGregor’s potential move to America symbolizes more than a fresh start—it’s a bid to redefine himself. Whether that reinvention comes with redemption or more tumult remains to be seen. For now, the question lingers, can Conor McGregor rise again with a change in countries, or has his legacy been permanently tarnished? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!