Conor McGregor is the face of the UFC and one of the most famous fighters in mixed martial arts history. The Irishman rose from a tough neighborhood to become the sport’s biggest star. His ability to promote fights and put opponents to sleep has earned him a devoted fan base on par with boxing legends like Floyd Mayweather Jr.
McGregor exploded onto the MMA scene in 2013 and became the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s featherweight and lightweight champion. In 2016, he unified the lightweight and featherweight divisions with a devastating second-round TKO win over Eddie Alvarez, becoming the first UFC fighter to hold both titles at the same weight class.
After a shock loss to Nate Diaz, McGregor returned to MMA in 2017 and quickly won back-to-back titles at lightweight and featherweight. However, his performance against Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018 prompted the UFC to strip him of both titles and suspend him for six months.
When he did return to the octagon, McGregor drew heavy criticism for his trash talk, which crossed religious and cultural lines. He also made headlines for an alleged sexual assault, which is a violation of the UFC’s ethics code.
Despite his rocky relationship with the UFC, McGregor is still one of the highest-rated fighters in the world. He’s the top-selling pay per view draw in MMA history, and all of his six headlining events are among the company’s most successful.
He’s also one of the most charismatic personalities in the business. His Twitter and Instagram accounts are awash with content and he’s often an inspiration for his young followers.
McGregor’s fiancee is Dee Devlin, who he met in 2008 when he was on welfare and she was working multiple jobs to make ends meet. They’ve been together for over a decade and have three children.
While his social media posts often evoke controversial comments, McGregor has been a supportive husband and father to his children. He hasn’t fought since a July 2021 TKO loss to Dustin Poirier and has been vocal about a comeback, regularly dropping hints that he may return to the octagon.
After a long hiatus from the octagon, it’s time for McGregor to reignite his popularity. He’s the UFC’s most recognizable and best-selling would-be ticket-seller, and his return to the cage is expected by many.
The UFC’s president, Dana White, says he hopes that McGregor will return in the year or early 2023. He recently announced that McGregor would fight 36-year-old contender Michael Chandler at welterweight.
If that happens, McGregor’s return will be a big win for the promotion. It will be his first fight since breaking his leg in July 2021, and it will bring him back to the spotlight that has defined his career.
He will also be a great challenge for Chandler, who’s a rising star in the sport and has been ranked as a top-10 welterweight by several publications.
With McGregor out of the octagon, the competition is wide open for other talented 155-pounders to step up and make the most of their time in the Octagon. Some of the names that have been thrown around include Daniel Cormier, Tyron Woodley and Anthony Pettis.