It's divided a nation. Okay, that may be a bit strong but Dana White's Ireland/UK mix-up has certainly got people talking. In case you haven't seen the video here it is again.
A tar and feather offence I think you'll agree. However, did White know exactly what he was saying. He's been widely castigated for being nothing more than another ignorant American who couldn't pick Ireland out on a map.
However, that doesn't seem very likely. McGregor has been a big cash cow for the UFC and with UFC Fight Night Dublin in July it was clear just how much White valued the Irish market. It would be very strange for someone in his position to be that ignorant of the country.
White's excuse was that he was merely joking with McGregor. Many have doubted this but we're not going to write him off entirely. The first reference to the UK was deliberate, there's no doubting that. And it's quite telling as well. All the hype that has gone into McGregor can be seen as a very definite ploy by the UFC to increase their market share in Europe.
They've conquered Ireland but the real golden goose is the UK. Without a bona fide MMA star in the UK, it's tough for the UFC to make the kind of headway that it has made in other parts of the world. It may not be geographically correct but as far as Dana White is concerned, Ireland and McGregor might as well be in the UK if it means they can make inroads over the Irish Sea.
That's more than likely what he meant when he said all of Brazil will be watching Aldo and all the UK will be watching McGregor. When the Dubliner corrected him, it's not impossible to believe he was joking subsequently.
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