artial arts (MMA) – a mixture of wrestling, judo, jiu-jitsu, thai boxing, pushing, throwing, choking and kicking.
He soon concentrated fully on his still uncertain martial arts career, although initially he was only able to keep his head above water with social assistance. At the age of 19 he fought his first professional fight in an octagon-shaped cage – which he won early in his hometown.
Promotion to the UFC
In his book, McGregor describes the intervention of his trainer, John Kavanagh, as a turning point: “Compared to a seasoned martial arts master like him, I was little more than a beginner with a long way to go. But I knew I was training with a man who could point me in the right direction.”
What followed was a meteoric rise in the martial arts scene, until the aspiring fighter was finally signed by the market-leading MMA federation, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2013. McGregor tore his cruciate ligament in his second fight, but after his 11-month break he continued to fight his way up the MMA scene.
First fighter to win two weight division titles
Using his ring name “The Notorious,” McGregor became the UFC Featherweight Champion in December 2015 by beating Brazilian Jose Aldo with a knockout in just 13 seconds. A year later, McGregor also captured the UFC lightweight belt, becoming the first fighter in UFC history to hold two division titles simultaneously. Since then he has been the undisputed star of the UFC and the figurehead of an entire sport with a worldwide fan base.
Show fight against Mayweather
McGregor’s show fight against former boxing world champion Floyd Mayweather in August 2017, which was held according to boxing rules, caused a lot of media hype and excitement .
Although Conor McGregor scored a few goals against 40-year-old veteran Mayweather at the start, he was beaten by a technical knockout after ten rounds. McGregor earned a total of $85 million from the fight.
Athlete who divides the masses
“The Notorious” is not only known for its performances in the cage. The Irishman also makes headlines outside of sport. Scandals surrounding bar fights, court hearings and allegations of abuse accompany the career of the cage fighter. But even at the press conferences leading up to his fights, McGregor, known as the king of trash talk, often causes heated tempers on the part of opponents.
With his provocative nature, he divides the masses – many love him, many criticize him for it. Ahead of a scheduled fight against Rafael dos Anjos in 2016, McGregor confidently boasted, “Jesus and I get along. I get along with all gods. Gods recognize other gods.”
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