Irish MMA fighter Paddy McCorry made headlines with a powerful and defiant gesture of solidarity for Gaza following his victory over an Israeli opponent at the Cage Warriors 189 event in Rome, Italy, on Saturday. The 27-year-old fighter emerged victorious with a unanimous decision over Shuki Farage, who is not only an MMA athlete but also a former soldier in the Israeli army.
Throughout the match, McCorry appeared to dominate, with several clips circulating online showing him repeatedly landing decisive strikes on Farage. One particular moment quickly went viral: as McCorry brought Farage down in the cage, he shouted "Free Palestine" directly at him. The bold shout ignited a wave of support from the audience, many of whom joined in chanting "Free Palestine" in unison. McCorry later posted the video on his X (formerly Twitter) account, captioning it with the words "Street justice," accompanied by Irish and Palestinian flag emojis.
Following the fight, McCorry was seen wrapped in a Palestinian flag while the referee raised his hand to declare him the winner. Without hesitation, he repeated his message, loudly proclaiming "Free Palestine" once again before the crowd. His act of protest and solidarity comes at a time when Ireland has been vocal in its criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza. Just last week, Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister, Simon Harris, reiterated the government's position, reaffirming a previous statement that accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza—making Ireland the first European country to officially take such a stance.
McCorry’s actions reflect a wider sentiment within Ireland, which has long shown support for the Palestinian cause and has been critical of Israeli military operations and policies. His gesture was not just a post-fight celebration, but a political statement that resonated with many both in the arena and beyond.
