Conor McGregor to Sponsor Irish Team at 2021 IMMAF Youth MMA Championships

The moment the Elite Irish Cadet MMA Team found out from IMMAA President @coach_kavanagh that @thenotoriousmma has offered to pay the full price of each Cadet athlete and their coaches trip to the @immafed Youth World Championships #IMMAA #MMAIreland #IrishMMA #IMMAF pic.twitter.com/3yBxzisi2b

— IMMAA (@IMMAAOnline) June 26, 2021

Conor McGregor is giving back to the sport of mixed martial arts in his home country ahead of his massive trilogy with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.

The former two-division UFC champion is sponsoring the participation of an entire Irish youth team in the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation’s 2021 Youth MMA Championships, which take place in Sofia, Bulgaria from July 29 to Aug. 1. According to a release, McGregor is paying for the entry fees, flights and accomodations of 27 young athletes and 20 coaches.

“Wishing the Irish squad the very best of luck in their quest at the world championships this year!” McGregor said. “From the fighters to the coaches, I know the future of our fighting nation is in excellent hands. Fight with the pride of the Emerald Isle, team! We are all with you. Good luck!”

In 2019, the Irish team placed sixth at the IMMAF Youth Championships. Competitors range in age from 12 to 18, and the event will be available for viewing via streaming, with details to be announced at a later date. Rules are modified from IMMAF Amateur MMA guidelines to disallow headstrikes for those under 18.

“It’s fantastic for all the athletes, coaches and the Irish MMA community that Conor has shown his passion for the sport MMA in this way and is helping pave the way for the next Conor,” IMMAF president Kerrith Brown said. “We at IMMAF are appreciative of Conor’s support of grassroots athlete development and his demonstration of support for John Kavanagh’s work in the MMA community as President of the Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association. The value of this endorsement extends beyond the money in terms of the focus and sense of purpose it gives to the team. This is what IMMAF is all about, working in communities to deliver a value from MMA for social good.”

UFC 264 takes place on July 10 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and is headlined by the third bout between McGregor and Poirier. The Irish star last appeared at UFC 257 on Jan. 23, when he suffered a second-round technical knockout defeat in a rematch with Poirier in Abu Dhabi.