By Oisin Doherty

Copyright belfastlive

Supporters have flocked to social media to mercilessly mock Conor McGregor for ‘tapping out’ following the MMA fighter’s announcement that he would not be standing for President of Ireland. McGregor had been hinting at a bid for Áras an Uachtaráin for months and officially declared his intentions in early September, sharing a video in which he appealed to councils to assist him in securing a place on the ballot paper on October 24th. The ex-UFC champion – who launched a furious online tirade against Taoiseach Micheal Martin over the weekend – was expected to address city councils this week in an attempt to gain backing from the four required. Yet despite months of bold claims, the Dubliner has today pulled out of the contest before it had properly begun. “Following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy from this presidential race. This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one at this moment in time,” McGregor posted on X, reports the Irish Mirror . “While I will not contest this election, my commitment to Ireland does not end here. I will continue to serve my people by using my international platform to promote Irish interests abroad, to strengthen our economic opportunities, and to advocate for transparency and responsibility in public life at home.” After withdrawing from the race without fanfare, supporters have flocked to social media platform X to mock McGregor for ‘tapping out,’ a familiar jibe aimed at the 36 year old since his submission defeats to Nate Diaz and Khabib Nurmagomedov during his UFC career. “Tapped out before the 1st,” posted one supporter on X. “Tapped out…. Again,” commented another user. Sharing a GIF of McGregor being choked by Nurmagomedov from their 2018 clash, a third supporter wrote: “McGregor taps out again Quelle surprise”. “McGregor taps out again,” remarked another. Other supporters chose a different approach with their mockery, targeting McGregor’s recent unreliable history of announcing UFC bouts and accepting fights, only for the contests never to materialise. A perfect illustration of this is his planned 2024 encounter with Michael Chandler, which McGregor pulled out of due to a toe injury shortly before the clash. “McGregor Pulling Out of Fights And Elections What Happened to Our Boy?”. Whilst the MMA fighter, who hasn’t competed in four years and has managed just one UFC victory since 2016, isn’t standing for office on this occasion, he has informed supporters that this isn’t the conclusion of his political aspirations. “My first venture into politics, and although I have chosen to withdraw this round, meaningful progress has been made. I want to assure the people of Ireland that this will not be my last election. “You will see me canvassing again in the future, fighting for your rights and representing the best interests of our nation. This is not the end, but the beginning of my political journey. “I am driven by a commitment to improve lives, defend rights, and serve the Irish people with dedication and integrity. I will continue to serve my people on the global stage lobbying for Ireland’s best interest’s socially and economically – of that there is no doubt. This is a marathon. Not a sprint! Ar aghaidh linn le Chéile! Is mise le dhea mheas, i gcónaí agus go deo.”