Family & Early Life
Conor Anthony McGregor was born on July 14, 1988, in Dublin, Ireland. Growing up in Crumlin, he received his education at Irish-language institutions—Gaelscoil Scoil Mológa in Harold's Cross for primary schooling and Gaelcholáiste Coláiste de hÍde in Tallaght for secondary education. During his formative years, McGregor showcased his athletic prowess by playing football for Lourdes Celtic Football Club, an organization he later sponsored.
His journey into combat sports began at the age of 12 when he joined Crumlin Boxing Club under the mentorship of Phil Sutcliffe. In 2006, McGregor relocated with his family to Lucan, Dublin, where he attended Gaelcholáiste Coláiste Cois Life and embarked on a plumbing apprenticeship. It was during his time in Lucan that he crossed paths with fellow UFC prospect Tom Egan, and began training MMA.
Early MMA Career
At 18 years old, on February 17, 2007, Conor McGregor stepped into the mixed martial arts arena, making his debut in an amateur bout against Kieran Campbell for the Irish Ring of Truth promotion in Dublin. Impressively, McGregor secured victory with a first-round technical knockout (TKO). Energized by his initial success, McGregor transitioned to the professional circuit, catching the attention of the Irish Cage of Truth promotion. In 2008, he commenced training at the renowned Straight Blast Gym (SBG) in Dublin, under the guidance of coach John Kavanagh.
The Rise Of Conor McGregor
McGregor's early professional journey saw him clinch victories in his first two bouts via TKO, only to encounter a setback with a submission loss to Artemij Sitenkov. Undeterred, he bounced back with two technical knockout triumphs before facing a submission defeat at the hands of future UFC contender Joseph Duffy. However, McGregor's resilience shone through as he embarked on an impressive eight-fight winning streak, culminating in him securing both the Cage Warriors lightweight and featherweight titles, boasting a commendable 12-2 record.
In a significant turn of events in February 2013, UFC president Dana White visited Dublin, Ireland. White found himself inundated with requests to sign McGregor to the UFC roster. Following a meeting with McGregor and discussions with UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, White wasted no time in extending a contract offer to McGregor just days later.
He made his UFC debut on April 6, 2013, against Marcus Brimage and secured a knockout victory in the first round. McGregor's meteoric rise continued as he triumphed over future UFC champion Max Holloway in his second bout and future Interim UFC Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier in his fourth.
Following an impressive five-fight winning streak, McGregor earned a title shot against Jose Aldo. However, Aldo withdrew from the scheduled fight, leading McGregor to face Chad Mendes for the interim UFC Featherweight Championship, which he claimed via technical knockout in the second round. McGregor's crowning moment came on December 12, 2015, when he delivered a stunning 13-second knockout victory over the long-reigning champion Jose Aldo, thus ascending to the throne as the UFC Featherweight Champion.
Boxing Debut And Return To MMA
Despite setbacks including a shocking loss and subsequent revenge against Nate Diaz at welterweight. McGregor went on to capture the UFC Lightweight Championship with a victory over Eddie Alvarez. He then shifted his attention to a new challenge—boxing. On June 14, 2017, it was revealed that McGregor would step into the ring for his inaugural professional boxing match against the undefeated legend, Floyd Mayweather Jr., set for August 26, 2017.
The highly anticipated showdown culminated with Mayweather emerging victorious via TKO in the 10th round. Despite the outcome, McGregor's venture into boxing proved immensely lucrative, with him securing a guaranteed $30 million purse and ultimately amassing $130 million in earnings, including revenue from pay-per-view sales.
After a hiatus from MMA, McGregor made a high-profile return to the octagon on October 6, 2018, challenging Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC Lightweight Championship. McGregor succumbed to defeat via submission in the fourth round. However, he quickly rebounded with a lightning-fast knockout victory over Donald Cerrone.
Mixed Success And Hiatus After Leg Injury
McGregor rebounded from his loss to Nurmagomedov with a lightning-fast knockout victory over Donald Cerrone. Despite swirling rumors of retirement, McGregor decided to step back into the octagon to face former rival Dustin Poirier in a highly anticipated rematch of their 2014 encounter. This showdown took place at UFC 257 in 2021 and he succumbed to a technical knockout in the second round. This defeat marked the first knockout loss of his career.
In the trilogy bout, McGregor faced Poirier at UFC 264, where McGregor suffered a significant setback, breaking his leg in the first round. With rumors of a return, McGregor is yet to fight against as of 2024.