Bearing in mind I did not watch the fight, but I did see the picture and heard the news (3.5 hour surgery to repair the leg) but what's the uproar? Paul Stanley was tweeting like McGregor took a shit on the canvas and called Poirer's wife a slut. I read a Yahoo article that talked about Poirer helping bring water to pygmy's in his down time; by that measure I'm a classless boor too. What gives?
The uproar is more about McGregor's persona in general, rather than anything he said or did leading up to the fight/last night (even though there were plenty of things). He's so polarizing that if you are on the negative perception side of the fence with this guy.....anything he says or does just gets amplified.....and his critics have a field day accordingly. I recognize that is part of his "schtick" anyway, so it's not like it doesn't just feed the Conor ego/hype machine.
I think it's more than just fans of UFC and fighting that get annoyed....it's a lot of people who aren't even fight fans who might watch his antics/false bravado and think, wow....what an asshole. This also extends to the fighters themselves....esp. those who fight him and listen to his taunting and head games (he took it to a new level with the Mayweather fight, but again, yes.....he's laughing all the way to the bank). Poirier in particular....he confessed that he let Conor get in his head in their first fight years ago. McGregor knocked him out, and Poirier felt like he lost his focus because he let the emotions get the best of him.
There's also resentment from other fighters seeing what he makes per fight, when they know it's more about the show with him than the fighting (Poirier mentioned how he considers himself a "fighter" and McGregor a "show"). The "trickle down" from his success has not made it to their pocketbooks on that level (even the ones who are clearly better than him), although it could be argued the overall growth of the sport....whether because of or in spite of McGregor and his personality....helps them, if for no other reason it keeps the UFC solvent/relevant (the transition from Fox to ESPN one example). I think their objection is, to them, it IS about the integrity of the fighting....not about the hype. They don't want MMA to go the way boxing did years ago with Don King, over the top hype, and sketchy outcomes.
The irony is, McGregor has serious credentials. He's still one of the top 5 fighters in his very crowded weight division....despite the losses he's racked up lately. But when you consider those losses are to Poirier (twice)...who is #1 ranked contender and fighting for a title his next fight.... and Khabib Nurmagomedov, who has said he is retired---but is/was considered by many to be the best pound for pound fighter in the UFC....those are "qualified" losses. In between, he destroyed Donald Cerrone (albeit in the twilight of his career), and seemed to have "rededicated" himself to MMA and fighting in the UFC/regaining his lost titles. Conor still has very good hands (there's a reason why he survived an entire fight against Mayweather, despite the boxing lesson overall) and kicks. What he doesn't have is great cardio like Khabib and Poirier. Those guys are elite level in that area....that's why they win. McGregor can't sustain his high level of striking, so if he doesn't get you early (like he does with most opponents), he gasses out and the better conditioned fighter can assert themselves in those later rounds (like Nate Diaz did a few years ago). I will give him credit....he will fight. He doesn't duck dudes....and according to him he still wants another crack at Poirier. But one has to wonder what he might possibly bring to the table that he DIDN'T in the last two fights.....not to mention how much this injury could affect his game moving forward. He's not a spring chicken anymore. And the worst part...yes, he lost to the best fighters, but he not only lost....he got his ass kicked badly each time. That's usually a cue for winding down a career.
So yeah, he's over the top. He's brash and loud and obnoxious. He brags and talks shit about his opponents. There are other fighters who have or do this now of course, but he's got that perceived swag about him.....the strut he does in the octagon before the fight is the stuff of campy legend. Joe Rogan mentioned that he preferred the "angry" Conor, but was also quick to point out the disingenuous nature of it all. It's one thing if you can back it up (Ali for example)....but when you start losing, and you still talk trash....pretty soon the swag equity runs out. He's there now to some extent....but likely refuses to acknowledge it as long as he continues to move the sports world's imagination needle. I think he's a colorful character, still. But his best fighting days are well behind him....and the other fighters have caught up and/or surpassed him. He DID finish Poirier early in their first fight, as he did with most of his other opponents (former champ Jose Aldo in 13 seconds!)....for awhile he was fighting as impressively as Rhonda Rousey was for a few years. Dominant. Seemingly unbeatable. But like Rousey with the SHOCKING KO loss to Holly Holmes, the writing is on the wall. She read it....and moved on to take advantage of her celeb (professional wrestling, movies). But you have to wonder if Proper#12 is enough to satisfy this man's insatiable ego. If not, then he either has to accept a lesser status in the ACTUAL fighting game and fight guys he can beat.....or he has to do more than just rededicate, he has to reinvent himself (ie work on a better ground game/improve his cardio to their level). The question is.....with a cool $160 million earned this year alone.....does he still have THAT kind of drive to compete at the championship level? There's something to be said for "hunger", so if I were a betting man.....I would say no way he ever becomes champion again.