Conor McGregor has challenged former Ireland footballer Paul McGrath to join comedian PJ Gallagher and fight him in a charity "two vs one" boxing bout.
The former two-weight UFC champion has had a feud going with radio host Gallagher over the past few days after he joked that the UK "can have" McGregor when a commentator made a gaff claiming he was British. And legendary footballer McGrath has been dragged into the rivalry after coming to the funny man's defence, and branding the fighter a "bully".
McGregor has taken aim at both McGrath and Gallagher in vicious Twitter tirades, the majority of which have since been deleted. And it all boiled over this afternoon when he challenged the pair to step into a boxing ring with him for a charity fight in which they both take him on at once.
"I challenge PJ and Paul McGrath to 2 vs 1 boxing match in aid of mental health and anti bullying organisations," McGregor wrote in a tweet which has stayed up, after two brutal put downs of McGrath that he quickly deleted, in which he claimed that the footballer was banned from a local pub and insisted that he would not be allowed to any of his establishments.
McGregor's challenge is unlikely to be answered favourably; McGrath has severe issues with his knees that forced him to retire from football in the 90s. And Gallagher, while a major sport fan who keeps himself in good shape, is far from an athlete and is unlikely to get in the boxing ring any time soon.
The feud between McGregor and Gallagher began when the comedian responded to outrage over a list of top UK fighters by UFC pundit Laura Sanko that included the Irishman. In Ireland, it is considered particularly offensive to claim that a celebrity or athlete from the nation is British, but Gallagher wrote: "Normally this kind of thing winds me up but they can have this lad."
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McGregor took issue with this slight from the radio host, and proceeded to mock him over his mental health struggles, writing on Sunday: "PJ Gallagher, you little sad pox of a thing. Sit up right and smile for a change will you? You sad little c*** hahahaha wife left you an all and your crying in the paper bout depression, posture like a prawn. Sad b******. I am Ireland. Don't forget it. There's blood on my flag useesoo."
McGrath waded in to defend Gallagher, taking the comedian's side and branding the fighter a bully. "PJ, take no notice of bullies," he wrote in one tweet, tagging both Gallagher and McGregor. "You're loved by everyone. Whatever you do, don't let him get the better of ya pal. Stay well, top man."
This angered the UFC legend, who responded by calling McGrath an "English man", making reference to the fact that he was born in the UK due to fears that his mother had over having a child out of wedlock in 1950s Ireland. In response, the footballer told McGregor that he needed to find God, before inviting him to his home. "Conor, you need to find God," he wrote. "And when you do knock on my door, I will have the kettle on for ya... My good friend."
