Conor McGregor urges Irish leaders to issue lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic

Conor McGregor is getting into the fight against the coronavirus.

The former two-division UFC champion issued a passionate plea on Tuesday urging leaders in Ireland to issue a lockdown in the country as the deadly virus continues to sweep the globe.

There have been more than 1,110 cases of coronavirus diagnosed in Ireland with six deaths.

“I would like to say while we are all currently debating a full lockdown, I feel that we must,” McGregor said in a video released by his MacLife website. “Any time debating this is needless time from the clock. I know a good, tough fight when I see one and we have one on our hands now. I want to call upon my people — the great people of Ireland — this fight needs us all.

“We’re all in the red corner together awaiting the bell. So let’s gather together and ring the bell ourselves, including the people of the rest of the world. True lockdown must begin and must begin now.”

Schools, universities and pubs in Ireland have already been shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak but McGregor asked Irish leaders to take a dramatic step forward by issuing a lockdown for the entire country while also shutting down most of the travel in and out of Ireland.

“A lockdown together. A lockdown united,” McGregor said. “We must close our airports. We must close all non-essential business. We must cut all non-essential travel. Commissioner [Drew] Harris and Vice Admiral [Mark] Mellett, we must prepare and deploy our units to any and all and any known built up areas across our country.

“Now President [Michael] Higgins, you must give these great men and women the power to enforce this task if necessary.”

McGregor has been one of the most outspoken UFC athletes when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic and he finished his plea with a call to all Irish people to come together during a tragic situation.

“Ireland, we have got this,” McGregor shouted. “Not only do we have the formula, we have it ahead of time. Let’s go Ireland. Let’s go rest of the world. A lockdown united. Together we stand. God bless us all.”