Conor McGregor

Conor Anthony McGregor (Conchúr Antóin Mac Gréagóir; born 14 July 1988) is an Irish professional mixed martial artist and professional boxer.

He is a former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight and Lightweight Champion, becoming the first UFC fighter to hold UFC championships in two weight classes simultaneously.

He is also a former Cage Warriors Featherweight and Lightweight Champion.

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.

His signature style off arena is to repeatedly engage in trash talk against his opponents, which has led to earning him the moniker The Notorious.

Throughout his career, McGregor has become the subject of many controversies due to his behaviour.

McGregor is the biggest pay-per-view (PPV) draw in mixed martial arts history, having headlined the five highest-selling UFC PPV events.

His bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 drew 2.4 million PPV buys, the most ever for an MMA event.

His debut professional boxing match, during which he was defeated by Floyd Mayweather Jr.., drew over 5.3 million buys across the United States and the United Kingdom.

McGregor was ranked as the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2021, earning a reported $180 million.

In 2006, McGregor moved with his family to Lucan, Dublin, attending Gaelcholáiste Coláiste Cois Life.

Following that, he commenced a plumbing apprenticeship.

While in Lucan, he met future UFC fighter Tom Egan and they soon started training mixed martial arts (MMA) together.

Among his inspirations growing up were Naseem Hamed, Muhammad Ali, and Bruce Lee.

On 17 February 2007, at the age of 18, McGregor made his mixed martial arts debut in an amateur fight against Kieran Campbell for the Irish Ring of Truth promotion in Dublin.

He won via technical knockout (TKO) in the first round.

Following the fight, he turned professional and was signed by the Irish Cage of Truth promotion.

In 2008, McGregor began training at the Straight Blast Gym (SBG) in Dublin under John Kavanagh.

On 9 March 2008, McGregor had his first professional MMA bout, as a lightweight, defeating Gary Morris with a second-round TKO.

After McGregor won his second fight against Mo Taylor, he made his featherweight debut in a loss via kneebar against submission specialist Artemij Sitenkov.

After a victory at featherweight in his next bout against Stephen Bailey, McGregor contemplated a different career path before his mother contacted his coach John Kavanagh and reinvigorated him to continue pursuing mixed martial arts.

McGregor then won his next fight, also at featherweight, against Connor Dillon, before moving back to lightweight for a fight against Joseph Duffy, in which he received his second professional loss after submitting to an arm-triangle choke.

Following this, during 2011 and 2012, McGregor went on an eight-fight winning streak, during which he won both the CWFC Featherweight and Lightweight championships, making him the first European professional mixed martial artist to hold titles in two divisions simultaneously.

In February 2013, UFC president Dana White made a trip to Dublin, Ireland to receive a Gold Medal of Honorary Patronage from Trinity College and was inundated with requests to sign McGregor to the UFC.

After a meeting with McGregor, and talking with UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, White offered him a contract days later.

In February 2013, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced that they had signed McGregor to a multi-fight contract.

In joining, he became only the second fighter from Ireland to compete for the company, following team member Tom Egan.

On 6 April 2013, McGregor made his UFC debut against Marcus Brimage at UFC on Fuel TV: Mousasi vs. Latifi.

He won the fight by knockout in round one.

The win also earned McGregor his first "Knockout of the Night" award.

McGregor was expected to face Andy Ogle on 17 August 2013 at UFC Fight Night 26, but Ogle pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by eventual UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway.

McGregor won the fight by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–26).

Following the bout with Holloway, an MRI scan revealed that McGregor had torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the bout and would require surgery, keeping him out of action for up to ten months.

McGregor was expected to face Cole Miller on 19 July 2014 at UFC Fight Night 46 in his comeback bout after recovering from his ACL injury.

He also featured in the list in 2018, when he was ranked fourth, with a reported income of $99 million.

He is credited with popularizing mixed martial arts around the globe.

Conor Anthony McGregor was born in Dublin, Ireland.

He was raised in Crumlin and attended Irish-language schools — the Gaelscoil Scoil Mológa, in Harold's Cross, at primary level, and Gaelcholáiste Coláiste de hÍde in Tallaght at secondary level, where he also developed his passion for sport, playing football.

In his youth, he played football for Lourdes Celtic Football Club.

At the age of 12, he also began boxing at Crumlin Boxing Club, as a way to defend himself against bullies and raise his confidence.