He is one of Ireland’s most high-profile figures. As controversial as he is adored, Conor McGregor (also nicknamed “Notorious”), is a champion of MMA, a mixed martial arts sport. Conor McGregor is no stranger to sporting and personal stunts, and is one of the greats in the hotly contested world of the sport. He is the first Irishman to win 2 world titles: UFC featherweight champion and CWFC lightweight champion. From years of hardship to success, this fighter’s story alone embodies the “Irish fighting spirit“, a conquering state of mind to which the Irish are very attached.
Conor McGregor – Andrius Petrucenia – cc
Conor McGregor was born on July 14, 1988 in Dublin, Ireland, in the tough neighborhood of Crumlin.
McGregor developed a real passion for sport as a child, particularly soccer.
But he was soon keen to develop his fighting skills. He began boxing at the age of 12 under the supervision of former Irish Olympian Philip Sutcliffe.
Having won a few titles in amateur English boxing matches, he decided to try his hand at grappling (specialized ground fighting) at the age of 15. While he soon began an apprenticeship in plumbing, McGregor took a parallel interest in mixed martial arts with future UFC fighter Tom Egan.
When asked about this period in his life, McGregor explains the difficulties he faced at the time, with the support of his partner. Unemployed, he spent his time in the training rooms, despite regular unpaid bills, and the meagre income he earned from Irish benefits. Ready for anything, he was convinced he would become a champion.
We lived in Ireland, 30 kilometers from Dublin, in a rented apartment with an unemployment benefit of €188.
Conor McGregor – https://vimeo.com/237593610
McGregor began his career in mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2007.
From 2008 onwards, his list of achievements grew rapidly, mainly in Ireland. Despite a few defeats, McGregor persevered, racking up a string of victories from February 2011 onwards. He soon signed with the world’s leading MMA organization, the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Buoyed by his success, Conor – dubbed “The Notorious” – McGregor faced José Aldo for the title of unified featherweight champion. McGregor puts an end to the main bout in just 13 seconds, inflicting a blistering knockout on his opponent! It’s the fastest title fight victory in UFC history. From then on, all eyes were on this young prodigy. Described as the rising star of MMA, he fascinates as much as he intimidates with his offensive performances, his outspokenness and his taste for provocation. He hits hard and well, with precision and brutality, and knows how to put on a show for the audience.
His colorful character quickly crystallized all interests. Unmistakable among thousands, he is distinguished by his tattoo on his torso, featuring a silverback gorilla, a crown on his head and a human heart in his mouth.
A hard worker, McGregor stands out above all for his rigorous discipline. Not a day goes by without him training and abusing his body. He grits his teeth at every wound and redoubles his efforts with each new battle.
What’s more, he likes to wage psychological warfare on his opponents weeks before the battle. It’s enough to make any fight a colorful one!
He soon attracted the attention of the tabloids and the press in general. The story of this young Irishman who grew up in the Crumlin neighborhoods, ready to break into MMA at any cost, has a way of fascinating the crowd. His thuggish, bling-bling side and his personal antics make him a person equally loved and hated.
His often excessive behavior has earned him a lot of bad buzz. Public altercations, late arrivals at matches, narcissistic declarations, repeated outbursts, arrests, legal antics… Conor McGregor is a nervous, no-holds-barred creature who fascinates as much as he annoys! He is without doubt the most talked-about MMA fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship!
I have a self-defense spirit. I’ve had it all my life. he declared
In 2016, McGregor offered a turning point to his career by stepping away from the UFC to devote himself to English boxing. One of the highlights of this period is the sporting confrontation with Floyd Mayweather, a notorious boxer in the 2000s who came out of retirement to fight Conor McGregor in August 2017 in Las Vegas. Although defeated after a hard-fought battle, McGregor surprised observers by playing a more balanced and intense game than expected.
McGregor has since returned to MMA fighting in the UFC. The public still remembers his intense clash with Khabib Nurmagomedov, which led to outbursts outside the octagon, or his victory over Donald Cerrone in January 2020.
Despite his often borderline behavior, McGregor also knows how to be human and generous. Very attached to his Irish roots, he has not forgotten his compatriots, and has donated a million euros to buy protective equipment for Irish healthcare workers battling the coronavirus pandemic. With this gesture, he once again demonstrated the “Irish fighting spirit”, as well as his solidarity with his country.
Far from being just a fighter, Conor McGregor is also an astonishing entrepreneur. The latter has created quite a stir with his many projects: the purchase of an Irish pub in Dublin, the creation of his own whiskey, the “Proper No. Twelve”, making a documentary film on Netflix called “Notorious”….
His successes are undeniable: his documentary has been viewed en masse, his whiskey has become one of the market leaders throughout the world…. and he even hit the jackpot by selling a large part of his shares to Poximo Spirits for the modest sum of $600 million!
However, he continues to hold a number of shares, enabling him to play an active role in the company.
As you can see, Conor McGregor loves projects, and has a taste for risk that pays off. These new ideas, as well as his struggles, made him an extremely popular figure in Ireland. Sometimes decried, sometimes praised, the fighter rides the wave of buzz and notoriety… And it seems to benefit him!
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