VIDEO: Conor McGregor Reacts to Kobe Bryant's Passing From Staples Center in Los Angeles

The world was united its sadness Sunday over the shocking death of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi, in a helicopter accident in nearby Calabasas. Impromptu vigils quickly took hold outside Staples Center, the arena he made famous, just hours before the Grammy Awards were due to be hosted there. The evening's show was full to the brim with heartfelt tributes to the fallen superstar and his daughter, and among those paying his respects was Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor, who cites Kobe as one of his first introductions to the United States.

"The first time I ever came to America, Kobe was one of the big stars... We don't really understand basketball too much back home too much, you know, but Kobe, his style transcends sport," McGregor told members of the media.

All night at the Grammy's, that sentiment held true.

McGregor really nailed it when he insisted that you didn't have to be a basketball fan -- or even understand the rules of the game -- to feel the sheer weight of Kobe Bryant's influence as a cultural figure. His resonance truly was the transcendent kind. And that's why his loss, as well as the loss of his 13-year-old Gianna, hurts as deeply as it does.