Belfast MMA fighter shouts ‘free Palestine' in face of Israeli opponent
Paddy McCorry, 27, defeated Israel's Shuki Farage in the Cage Warriors 189 event on Saturday night
Paddy McCorry could be seen shouting 'Free Palestine' in his opponent's face while dominating him on the ground.
A viral video has appeared online of an MMA fighter from west Belfast shouting 'Free Palestine' in the face of his Israeli opponent during a high-stakes bout in Rome.
Paddy McCorry, 27, defeated Israel's Shuki Farage in the Cage Warriors 189 event on Saturday night.
As he pinned Farage and landed a flurry of blows, McCorry could be heard yelling 'Free Palestine' repeatedly and 'f*** you' in his opponent's face.
When he was announced as the unanimous winner, McCorry held the Palestine flag aloft and again shouted the slogan which is used to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The Cage Warriors website said: 'Ireland's strong showing on the main card continued as Paddy McCorry made a triumphant return.
'Dominating from bell to bell, McCorry swept the scorecards and capped off his performance by calling for a spot on Dana White's Contender Series.'
McCorry later shared footage of the match on his social platforms, captioned 'Street Justice,' along with Irish and Palestinian flags.
The audience could also be heard chanting 'Free, free Palestine' as the fight reached its climax.
Farage, who was previously undefeated, reportedly served in the Israel Defense Forces.
Photos circulating online, allegedly from his Instagram and Facebook accounts, show him in IDF uniform posing with a weapon in front of a destroyed building in Gaza.
Following the online backlash, Farage appeared to deactivate his social media accounts.
Ahead of the match, Farage had vowed to "take down" McCorry and "pound his face'.
Instead, he saw his winning streak come to an end.
Paddy McCorry holding the Palestine flag after beating Shuki Farage
News in 90 Seconds - June 1st
The video has divided the internet, with some praising McCorry for using his platform to stand up for Palestinians, while others criticized him for 'bringing politics into sport'.
The fight comes at a time of extreme humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to the UN, 100% of Gaza's 2.3 million residents are now at risk of 'catastrophic hunger,' making it the 'hungriest place on Earth.'
On Sunday it was widely reported that at least 31 people had been killed near an aid distribution centre in the Rafah area of southern Gaza.
Witnesses said the deaths came after Israeli forces opened fire at a roundabout near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation hub, a new aid organisation backed by Israel and the US.
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