The media here isn't subject to Ireland's laws. If there were a belief that there was a real story there involving Conor McGregor, you can bet that Ariel Helwani and The MMA Reporters show yesterday would have been talking about it.

You think they haven't heard about it? Of course they have.

But instead, they were talking about whether he should fight Nate Diaz or Donald Cerrone next, and not a single mention of this completely baseless story.

How do I know it's baseless? Because the MMA media hasn't even touched it a little bit, and it would be the height of journalistic malpractice for them to ignore this story if there were any legs to it.

I don't really gamble. So I'll just rep you now, and if it turns out I'm right that either:

1. It was a bogus story that didn't have any legs and Conor was questioned and released.

Or-

2. It's a bogus Twitter story altogether and it doesn't even involve Conor at all

Then I'll come back here and remind you that I was right.



Serious question: Are you American? I can't remember.

You and I have a bit of a different understanding of how the American media works. Let's see which vision ultimately bears out in this case.

I can't see the upside.

Let's say he was questioned but he knows it's a baseless story and that questioning will be the end of it (the first possibility in my mind). I don't have any idea about Ireland's laws, but if it's true that the Irish media can't release names of people who are just questioned, then why would he lend credibility to the story by broadcasting it to his millions of followers?

Then let's say for a second it's complete bullchit and there is literally no story here related to Conor McGregor (the other possibility in my mind). He's supposed to lend credibility to a Twitter rumor by letting his millions of fans know about it?

Of course, some people think maybe it's a real story. If he's guilty or if they feel there's a real threat he'll be prosecuted, he probably just wants to avoid it altogether and let his legal team handle it behind the scenes.

You think Helwani is afraid to go up against the UFC?

You know better than that. He's publicly went to war with the UFC by exposing their plans before they released them. Oh and by the way, he won that battle.

He hosts a show called MMA Reporters. American journalists report rumors all the time. If there were any legs to these rumors, he would have brought up the rumor on this week's show. And I know Ariel is friendly with a few Irish journalists because he used to have them on his show all the time. So it's a simple text for him to reach out to those guys and ask if there's any truth to the rumors. If there was, he'd be on it like stink on chit.

Would it really? It didn't rock the world when Kobe Bryant did it ten or fifteen years ago. In fact, I bet most people under thirty don't even know it happened. It was definitely news, but it went away quickly enough.

It didn't rock the world when Al Gore did it several different times to his massage therapists in hotel rooms. Again, this was news, but it went away.

These are people more famous than Conor McGregor.

Media sensations come and go. The OJ Simpson trial was a once-in-a-lifetime sensation. I think this particular story we're talking about is 100% bogus, but even if it's not, it's an open question whether it will even be career suicide in my opinion.

Location: Germany

No offense, but you don't have any idea how American media works. They crucify people based on rumors on a regular basis. That's why I see no smoke to this story, because our media would be eating it alive if there were a hint of truth to it.

It just says Irish sports star. I'm sure they have sports teams with dozens of famous stars. But even if it was Conor, he was questioned and released that day, so obviously they didn't have any evidence strong enough to arrest him, whoever "he" really is.

You guys just want this story to be real so bad you can taste it.

Personally I don't give two fuks, and that's why I have to be the objective one here to tell you all that it's so obviously bogus.

Then you're not making any argument that I'm not making.

My entire argument is that if there was any reason to believe the rumors were substantial and that Conor was in any real trouble, the American media (and in particular the American MMA media) would have at least addressed it. Since they haven't, I have to assume that it's just outright bogus or that he was questioned and released and that's that.

And every minute that passes with no leaks or legitimate American reporter even mentioning it strengthens my opinion on the matter.

This is not true. '

You're an American and this is media that we are partaking in.

You are currently reporting that Conor McGregor is linked to a rape in Ireland via a form of media. So why hasn't the Irish police showed up to your doorstep yet?

Guess what? You are not subject to Ireland's laws.

ok i give up you win.