Conor McGregor once again showed why he is among combat sports' most colorful characters with his acceptance speech for "Fighter of the Year" at the World MMA Awards.
In what was an otherwise sterile ceremony, McGregor's speech provided a lighter point — despite the fact that he was no doubt genuine in his message.
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McGregor didn't attend the Las Vegas ceremony, opting to shoot an acceptance video from the back of his car in Ireland ahead of his lightweight championship showdown with Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 196.
That bout is scheduled for March 5 in Las Vegas.
The card includes Holly Holm's first title defense, with Meisha Tate her opponent. Holm holds the UFC women's bantamweight after stunning Ronda Rousey.
McGregor was his usual self in his speech.
Here is Conor McGregor's MMA Fighter of the Year award acceptance speech. https://t.co/ZWDXn1I5wb
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) February 6, 2016
"I've killed the entire game in less than two years — nobody can touch me," said McGregor, the UFC featherweight champion.
"I apologize for not being there, there's another man that must be slain, another champion that must be dethroned."
The reference was to dos Anjos. But McGregor didn't stop there. In fact, he basically called out the entire world of mixed martial arts.
"There's more numbers that need to be broken. I need to feed all you bums," McGregor said. "I need to feed every single one of you in the game so I've got to keep working because (you) bums don't work.
"The game is on its knees. I apologize I can't be there at the awards but I'm out here putting it in, working, putting in the true work.
"The work it takes to keep every one of you fed. So thank you and thank me."
Holm was a big winner at Friday's awards ceremony. She was voted Female Fighter of the Year, Breakthrough Fighter of the Year, Knockout of the Year and Upset of the Year.
McGregor won the Charles “Mask” Lewis Fighter of the Year award, as well as International Fighter of the Year. Balloting was by mixed martial arts fans.