Issue 144
August 2016
Forget all the rules you thought you knew about the fight game, Conor McGregor was born to break them
To go from living off welfare to enjoying a multi-millionaire lifestyle and being a globally recognized superstar in just three years takes far more than just luck. It takes balls. Like a spectacular firework, Conor McGregor has rocketed through the ranks on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage to explode into the brightest star and biggest active draw in fight sports. And he’s only got himself to thank for it.
McGregor was unknown outside of the European scene at the start of 2013. Today he’s the most powerful athlete in mixed martial arts. He’s running the game from a financial, fan and media perspective – and he doesn’t need belts or weight classes to do it. Alone, he’s changed the game. A modern-day pioneer in terms of celebrity, attention and riches.
At the end of last year, Lorenzo Fertitta described McGregor’s potential in a way that sums up his value to the Octagon. If, as the UFC chairman and CEO predicted, the Irishman becomes the promotion’s “first $100 millionaire”, he will surpass everyone that’s ever come before – not even Brock Lesnar, Chuck Liddell or Georges St Pierre could come close to those figures. Not bad for a 160lb Dubliner.
“I’m still only 27, I’m just warming up in the fight game,” he told FO. “Nobody does it like me... Listen, when it comes to it all, it’s easy for people to look in from the outside, but when you put it all together – not just the weigh-ins, not just the fight, all of the other stuff – nobody can do it better than me. Every other person crumbles. I show up.”
The UFC featherweight champion is so ‘Notorious’ even the most successful athlete of the past decade, from any sport, started calling him out this spring. Floyd Mayweather has made enough millions during his glittering boxing career to know where the next big check is. And by publicly chasing McGregor for his 50th fight return he’s corroborated the fact there’s no fresher moneymaker than the Irishman in 2016.
Even suffering a second round submission loss to Nate Diaz in March – his first defeat in the UFC that snapped a 15-fight unbeaten streak – hasn’t dimmed McGregor’s glow.
In fact, his attitude post-fight won him more fans because of the humility with which he accepted the loss. Everyone is holding their breath for their return, now scheduled for UFC 202 this August. Setback... what setback?
Sweet science sparring
Ready for the boxing ring?
How would ‘The Notorious’ fare if he fought Floyd Mayweather? FO asked the boxer he recently sparred with, Chris van Heerden. “I was really impressed,” says the former IBO welterweight champion.
“The man knows how to fight. Something Conor does very well is his counter punching. His precision and timing on his counter punching is beautiful – especially on that straight left.
“I could see that Conor isn’t a pro boxer because of stuff like defense, head movement and the placing of his feet when he fights. The placement of his feet is not up to date with being a boxer.
“He would shock a lot of boxers out there with what he can offer.”
