Conor McGregor is a retired professional mixed martial artist and boxer from Dublin, Ireland. Born on July 14, 1988, he grew up in the Dublin suburb of Crumlin and began boxing at a young age. McGregor later transitioned to mixed martial arts (MMA) and began his professional career in 2008.
Debut
McGregor quickly gained recognition for his striking ability and brash personality. He signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2013 and won his debut fight against Marcus Brimage. He went on to win several more fights in the featherweight and lightweight divisions, earning a reputation as one of the most exciting fighters in the sport.
In 2015, McGregor defeated José Aldo to become the UFC featherweight champion. He then moved up to the lightweight division and defeated Eddie Alvarez to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes simultaneously. McGregor also became known for his trash-talking and promotional skills, which helped him become one of the sport’s biggest stars.
In 2017, McGregor made his professional boxing debut in a highly anticipated match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Although McGregor lost the fight, he earned a reported $100 million and gained even more mainstream attention.
Retirement
McGregor announced his retirement from MMA in 2019 but returned to the sport in 2020 for a fight against Donald Cerrone. He also announced his retirement again in 2020 but returned to the sport once more in 2021 for a trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier, which he lost via TKO.
Outside of fighting, McGregor has been involved in several business ventures, including a whiskey brand and a clothing line. He has also been in legal trouble, including a 2018 incident in which he threw a dolly at a bus carrying UFC fighters and staff, resulting in multiple injuries and criminal charges.
Career
Conor McGregor’s career began in 2008 when he made his professional MMA debut in Ireland. He quickly gained attention for his striking ability and his confident personality. McGregor fought in various promotions before signing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2013.
McGregor made his UFC debut in 2013, winning his first fight against Marcus Brimage by TKO in the first round. He then won his next two fights against Max Holloway and Diego Brandao, establishing himself as a rising star in the UFC.
In 2015, McGregor fought José Aldo for the featherweight title in what was considered one of the biggest fights in UFC history. McGregor won the fight in just 13 seconds, becoming the new featherweight champion.
After winning the featherweight title, McGregor moved up to the lightweight division and defeated Eddie Alvarez in 2016 to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes simultaneously.
In 2017, McGregor took a break from MMA to make his professional boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Despite losing the fight, McGregor earned a reported $100 million and gained even more mainstream attention.
After a two-year hiatus from MMA, McGregor returned to the UFC in 2020 for a fight against Donald Cerrone. He won the fight by TKO in the first round.
McGregor also fought Dustin Poirier in a trilogy fight in 2021, which he lost via TKO in the second round. Following the loss, McGregor announced his retirement from MMA for the third time.
Throughout his career, McGregor has been known for his trash-talking, promotional skills, and striking ability. He has become one of the biggest stars in combat sports, and his fights have drawn millions of viewers and generated millions of dollars in revenue.
