Notorious: The Rise and Rebrith of Conor McGregor

He is an Irish mixed martial artist who became famous after winning Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) titles in two weight classes in 2015–16. Conor rose from a tough neighbourhood to become the biggest star in the sport of mixed martial arts. He is also a former simultaneous Cage Warriors Featherweight and Lightweight Champion.

McGregor is the biggest pay-per-view (PPV) draw in mixed martial arts history, having headlined the five highest-selling UFC PPV events. Known for his counter-striking skills, striking precision and knockout power, the majority of McGregor’s victories in mixed martial arts have come by way of knockout or technical knockout via punches.

Early Life

The youngest of three children, McGregor grew up in Crumlin, a working-class suburb of Dublin. His father, Tony McGregor, was a taxi driver, and his mother, Margaret McGregor, was a laundry worker. He was a member of the Crumlin Boxing Club from age 11 to 17, winning a Dublin Novice Championship during that time.

Soon McGregor began training in kickboxing and mixed martial arts at other local clubs, notably Straight Blast Gym Ireland, where he was coached by John Kavanagh. He also found a job as an apprentice plumber but elected to forego the profession, over his parents’ objections, to pursue his dream of becoming a professional fighter.

MMA Career

In 2008 McGregor began competing on the professional MMA circuit in the lightweight and featherweight divisions. He lost two of his first six fights before reeling off an impressive winning streak, claiming both the featherweight championship and the lightweight championship in 2012. McGregor’s success combined with his cockiness made him a fast-rising star in MMA. Among his arsenal of strengths are his use of distance and range, his formidable striking accuracy, and his powerful left hand. 

Signed by UFC President Dana White in early 2013, McGregor impressed with a first-round knockout in his April debut for the organization.  In July 2015 he clinched his first UFC championship in a fight against Chad Mendes in Las Vegas. In December he won the UFC featherweight championship with a sensational left-hook knockout of opponent José Aldo in a match that lasted all of 13 seconds.

Fight vs Nate Diaz

When lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos pulled out of their planned March 2016 title bout due to injury, McGregor jumped one more weight class to fight Nate Diaz at 170 pounds. The Irishman was eventually worn down by the bigger Diaz before submitting to a chokehold, ending his 15-match winning streak. McGregor had his first professional loss, lead-up to the match was rancorous, the two fighters traded insults and came to blows during a news conference two days before the fight. He and Diaz faced off again five months later, in August. This time McGregor was victorious in a five-minute fight that he won by majority decision. 

Two Division Champion

Dropping back to the more comfortable lightweight class, McGregor delivered another impressive performance with a second-round TKO of Eddie Alvarez in November 2016, simultaneously making him the UFC’s lightweight and featherweight champions.

Fight against Mayweather

The bout was preceded by a large promotional campaign and a great deal of trash talk between the two competitors. Mayweather won the fight by technical knockout in the 10th round, although commentators praised the underdog McGregor for making the bout competitive. Both men reportedly walked away with millions, McGregor’s take was estimated to be $130 million.

Defeat against Khabib

McGregor’s relationship with the UFC became strained when his inactivity in the octagon prompted its president to strip the fighter of his featherweight and lightweight titles by early 2018. McGregor returned to the UFC cage in 2018 in a fight for the lightweight championship with Khabib Nurmagomedov. Before the fight, through his trash talk, he rilied up Nurmagomedov, a Muslim from Dagestan Republic, Russia with offensive comments about his opponent’s culture and religion. 

Right after Nurmagomedov’s fourth-round win, the two sides erupted in a post-match brawl, resulting in a six-month suspension for McGregor.

Retirement & Return

On March 26, 2019, McGregor announced via Twitter that he was retiring from the sport that made him famous, concluding his MMA career with a record of 21 wins and four losses. However, later in the year, the fighter confirmed that he intended to make a comeback in January 2020. he faced off against Donald Cerrone in a welterweight division match. He won by knockout in 40 seconds, he returned in 2021 for two fights against Dustin Poirier, both of which he lost.

McGregor finally agreed to return to the UFC in 2024, to face Michael Chandler. However, the fight was cancelled a few weeks before its scheduled date of June 29, reportedly because McGregor was injured.

Fighting Style

He has mostly fought as a featherweight (145 pounds) and lightweight (155 pounds) but has beefed up to 170 pounds for his welterweight bouts. McGregor has trained in a variety of disciplines, including Capoeira, Tae Kwon Do and Karate, and holds a brown belt with the grappling techniques of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, he is primarily known for his pure punching power, specifically for a left hook that has sent numerous opponents to the mat.

Controversies

McGregor has been accused numerous times of sexual and physical assault, including an incident that was caught on camera in 2019 in which he punched an older man in a Dublin pub after the man refused to try McGregor’s brand of whiskey. McGregor publicly expressed remorse for the assault, pleaded guilty in court, and was made to pay a fine.

Although a number of his assault cases were dropped, a sexual assault case filed by a woman in Dublin in 2018 remains ongoing. McGregor was investigated by Irish police in 2019 and was not charged. In 2021 the woman in the case filed a civil lawsuit against him, alleging personal injury. The case was expected to be heard by a jury in Ireland in November 2024.

Business Ventures

McGregor has endorsement deals with Beats by Dre, Monster Energy, Reebok and Bud Light. In 2017, his endorsement deals rounded up to $7 million. In early 2018, McGregor signed a deal with Burger King. In September 2018, McGregor launched Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey in Ireland and the United States. The whiskey is named after the Crumlin neighbourhood in Dublin 12, in which McGregor grew up. 

McGregor officially launched Forged Irish Stout on July 10, 2021. The stout is brewed in Ireland and was introduced at The Black Forge Inn in Dublin. On April 27, 2024, it was announced that McGregor and his company “McGregor Sports and Entertainment” were now part-owners of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

Personal Life

Those close to McGregor know the power behind the UFC throne lies in the hands of his longtime girlfriend Dee Devlin. A vital member of Team McGregor, Devlin helps to train the champ, cooks his meals and generally provides a soothing presence. She also added the invaluable role of mother on May 5, 2017, when she gave birth to Conor Jack McGregor Jr. In August 2020, the couple announced their engagement. They also welcomed their daughter, Croia, in January 2019 and their son Rían in May 2021.