A pair of boots worn by Conor McGregor is being auctioned off to help raise funds for an Irish MMA fighter who has been left paralysed.
The boots, worn by McGregor in the lead up to his bout with Floyd Mayweather in 2017, were put up for auction on Christmas Eve and will be available for bidding up until January 11.
The proceeds from the auction will be donated to Ian Coughlan, an MMA fighter who was left paralysed during the summer following a horrific accident during training.
He was considered one of the most exciting prospects in Ireland and was preparing for his return to the cage after making his Bellator debut when he was paralysed during a sparring session.
Coughlan spent three months in Galway University Hospital following the accident in July 2021 and was later transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire. He is still undergoing various forms of therapy here.
*You can donate to Ian Coughlan's GoFundMe HERE.*
His “worst fears” came true when he was told that he may never walk again, and would be reliant on carers to assist him with his daily tasks.
While therapists are preparing him for life in a wheelchair, “Ian is not giving up without a fight”, a GoFundMe page set up for him says.
On December 28, an update was posted on the page which said: “We would like to extend our gratitude to all our donors, including Conor McGregor, for helping us reach our initial goal for Ian's treatment.
“We have since learned that Ian's treatment costs have increased due to COVID as the hospitals in Germany are no longer offering inpatient services; this means that Ian will need to find alternative accommodation and hire private healthcare assistants whilst in Germany.
“We are thankful that you have helped us reach our goal, but we would greatly appreciate further donations to help with Ian's medical upkeep whilst in Germany.
“We thank you for all your kind support.”
McGregor’s boots are currently at £1000, with 12 days to go.
His coach, John Kavanagh, discussed the boots on the MMA Hour podcast and said: “They were his favourite training boots, but Conor was happy to give them over.”
The auction listing says that they are “still in training condition”, offering bidders the chance to be part of the “legacy” of the famous bout.
“Own the moment and feel closer to the fight than ever before,” it said.
