Conor McGregor is an Irish mixed martial artist who has transcended his combat sport to become one of the best-known faces in popular culture. Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1988, McGregor began his MMA career in the Cage Warriors organization before rising to prominence with the most well-known MMA promotion, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
McGregor’s stunning success in the UFC led him to face Floyd Maweather Jr. in a boxing match in 2017. McGregor lost to the undefeated boxer via 10th-round TKO. Despite the loss, McGregor was laughing all the way to the bank with Mayweather Jr. as their event sold over 5 million pay-per-views across the United States, the UK and Ireland. This crossover event launched McGregor towards global fame. The fighter launched his own whiskey brand in 2018 and has made numerous other excellent business investments.
Historically, McGregor has marketed himself in a cocky manner. He is very active on social media and can play the bad guy persona very well. During the last five years, Forbes has ranked McGregor in the top ten as one of the world’s highest-earning athletes.
Unparalleled Success in the UFC
After compiling a 12-2 record in the Cage Warriors MMA promotion, he became its featherweight and lightweight champion. In the process, McGregor was offered a contract to fight in the UFC in 2013. McGregor currently holds a 10-4 record within the UFC. In his seventh UFC bout in August 2015, McGregor defeated Jose Aldo to become the organization’s featherweight champion.
On November 12, 2016, McGregor defeated Eddie Alvarez to become the UFC lightweight champion. This victory saw McGregor become the first fighter within the UFC to hold the title in two weight classes. The Irishman was making history.
Springboarding Into Boxing And Facing Mayweather Jr.
McGregor’s decorated run in the UFC and his notoriety and self-promotion skills led to him making his professional boxing debut against his boxing equivalent, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather Jr. was officially retired from boxing but had expressed an interest in reversing that decision to face McGregor in a boxing match. Both men knew the event would generate huge money.
After much negotiating, the bout was agreed, and it took place in boxing’s light middleweight division on August 26, 2017. Mayweather Jr. won the “fight” fairly easily, but both men were winners in the financial stakes.
McGregor Returns to the UFC And Remains in the Limelight
Since the Mayweather Jr. bout, McGregor has fought four times in the UFC, winning one and losing three. He last fought in July 2021. While his best days in the octagon seem to be behind him, McGregor continues to keep himself front and center at most of the big UFC and boxing events. He is also a regular guest on many of the popular talk shows in America and Europe.
The Irishman hasn’t ruled out a return to the boxing ring at some point and has mentioned challenging boxing megastar Canelo Alvarez to a fight. McGregor remains a massive pop culture name. Despite seeming to be retired from his sport, he remains an almost permanent fixture in most online news outlets’ sports and celebrity sections.
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