Morning broke in Ireland, but it wasn't the crisp air or the sunrise that stirred the world awake, it was the video.
The sparring session between Damon Cross and Collin NcGyver had ignited a wildfire.
The clip, barely a few minutes long, was everywhere.
Chirper was ablaze with hashtags like #CrossVsNcGyver and #IrelandUnites.
The video had spread far beyond the MMA community, catching the attention of casual fans and even celebrities.
Everyone had an opinion, and the excitement was palpable.
And it wasn't like the two were ever going to fight.
Damon was a middleweight, while Collin competed in lightweight or featherweight divisions.
Still, the buzz around their sparring wasn't just about their weight classes.
It was the timing, with the World MMA Tournament looming on the horizon, that made the clip even more significant.
Speculation about the tournament had already taken the MMA world by storm.