Conor McGregor, the Irish mixed martial artist, is known for his larger-than-life personality and the extravagant lifestyle he leads. McGregor has become a global icon in the world of combat sports, and his impact is not limited to the octagon. In 2021, McGregor found himself in the headlines once again when he got into an altercation with a mascot at a promotional event in Russia. The incident occurred during a press conference for his whiskey brand, Proper No. Twelve, in Moscow. McGregor, known for his sharp wit and quick comebacks, engaged in a playful exchange with the mascot, which was dressed as a bottle of his whiskey.
McGregor, known for his sharp wit and quick comebacks, engaged in a playful exchange with the mascot, which was dressed as a bottle of his whiskey. However, things quickly escalated when McGregor threw a punch at the mascot, mistaking it for a man. The incident drew mixed reactions from fans and the media, with some praising McGregor's showmanship and entertainment value and others criticizing his actions as excessive and disrespectful.
How we made The Blair Witch Project
I grew up around the woods and swamps of Florida. For a long time, I had this idea of seeing a stick figure hanging from a tree and it creeped the hell out of me. Ed Sánchez, a friend from university who ended up co-directing, helped me work this into a 35-page treatment about three students who go missing after heading out into the Maryland woods to make a documentary about a legendary witch. The idea was that this film was put together later, using the footage they shot. In the late 90s, with digital coming into its own, it was only a matter of time before someone made this kind of first-person movie.
The treatment covered what happens, but it had no dialogue – we wanted it all improvised. The original plan was for it to be three guys, but we had to cast Heather Donahue after what happened during her audition. We asked actors to pretend to be at a parole hearing and explain why they should be released. She said: “I probably shouldn’t be released.”
We set up a base at a house in Germantown, Maryland, that Ed shared with his girlfriend. There were 10 to 15 of us there for six weeks, sleeping on couches and on the floor. The shoot took eight days and was a 24/7 operation. It wasn’t like a normal film: the actors would work the cameras, filming each other all the time. Using GPS, we directed them to locations marked with flags or milk crates, where they’d leave their footage and pick up food and our directing notes.
These would say things like: “Heather, you’re absolutely sure that to get out of this mess you go south. Don’t take no for an answer.” Or: “Josh, somewhere along the way today, you’ve had it with this bullshit.” They had the freedom to decide how to play it: we only intervened if we felt they needed to tone things down. Then there were the “gags” we’d pull at night that they had to react to – like hearing the children’s voices, or feeling the tent being shaken.
It cost about $35,000 (£26,000) to get all the footage shot. We already had some buzz going into the Sundance film festival, partly because of the website we built suggesting our student documentary-makers really had disappeared. I got a call from a New York police officer who had worked in Maryland for years and wanted to help. I had to tell him it was all fake. There was a queue around the block and out into the parking lot for the first Sundance screening. The next thing we knew, [film studio] Artisan had bought the movie for $1m. All in, it cost about $300,000 – and it made nearly $250m worldwide. Not too many movies have had such a cultural influence. It popularised the found-footage approach, for better or for worse. There’s a common misunderstanding that not a lot went into it, but it took two years of effort to make it look like it was just shot by three students over a long weekend.
‘We went from total anonymity to the cover of Newsweek’ … Joshua Leonard, left, and Michael Williams. Photograph: Alamy
McGregor himself later admitted that he had overreacted and talked about how he had gotten caught up in the moment. This incident, while seemingly frivolous, showcases McGregor's ability to generate headlines and stay relevant even outside of the fighting arena. His larger-than-life persona and his antics continue to captivate audiences worldwide. McGregor's ability to draw attention to himself and his brand is a testament to his marketing prowess and his understanding of the power of spectacle in the world of sports entertainment. While some may argue that McGregor's behavior is unprofessional or harmful to his image, it cannot be denied that his actions have helped him build a loyal and dedicated fan base. McGregor's charisma and personality have made him one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports, and his ability to create spectacle and drama only adds to his mystique. Despite the controversy surrounding the incident with the mascot, McGregor remains a force to be reckoned with in the world of combat sports. He continues to draw massive crowds and generate significant revenue for his fights and endorsements. McGregor's star power and his ability to create hype and drama have made him a household name, and his impact on the sport cannot be understated..
Reviews for "Conor McGregor's New Target: The Mascot World"
- John - 1 star
I really didn't enjoy "Conor McGregor levels mascot". The main problem for me was the lack of originality and creativity. The whole concept felt like a desperate attempt to capitalize on Conor McGregor's fame without putting much effort into the actual gameplay. The graphics were mediocre at best, and the controls were clunky and unresponsive. Overall, I found it to be a shallow and disappointing experience.
- Sarah - 2 stars
"Conor McGregor levels mascot" left a lot to be desired. While the idea of playing as a mascot in various Conor McGregor-themed levels sounded interesting, the execution fell flat. The levels were repetitive and lacked any real challenge. The gameplay itself felt monotonous and the controls were not intuitive. It was a shame because the potential for a fun and unique game was there, but it just didn't deliver.
- Mark - 1 star
I cannot understand the hype around "Conor McGregor levels mascot". The game felt like a cheap cash grab, trying to capitalize on Conor McGregor's popularity without offering anything substantial. The levels were dull and lacked any real excitement. The controls were clunky and frustrating, making it hard to enjoy the game. Overall, I felt like I wasted my time and money on a game that had nothing to offer but a famous name.
- Emily - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Conor McGregor levels mascot". The game lacked depth and variety. Playing as a mascot in Conor McGregor-themed levels could have been enjoyable, but it quickly became repetitive and boring. The graphics and controls were also underwhelming, leaving me feeling unsatisfied with the overall experience. I had high hopes for this game, but it just didn't deliver.