Under the Microscope: 5 Fights That Made Conor McGregor
The most interesting thing to happen during the Anthony Joshua and Robert Helenius fight night had nothing to do with the bout between the two boxers in the ring. Instead the best viewing came when ‘Notorious’ Conor McGregor stepped into the ring to give his thoughts on the fight he had just witnessed.
After praising Joshua’s professionalism and paying respect to Helenius for stepping in at such short notice McGregor then turned his attention to YouTuber KSI, offering him the chance to step up into the ring and have a bare knuckle fight.
Whilst that outburst and McGregor’s quip about KSI’s boxing ability were viral fodder, it got us pining for the days when the legends of fighting fought the best in the business instead of YouTubers and TikTok stars.
Which is why we’re going to take you on a little trip down memory lane to look at 10 of Conor McGregor’s most defining and entertaining fights, read on to find out what they are.
Marcus Brimmage
April 6, 2013
Stockholm, Sweden
After signing to the UFC earlier in the year excitement levels were already reaching fever pitch ahead of McGregor’s debut in Stockholm. The myth of the Notorious was well on its way to being formed with a number of high-profile public figures such as Joe Rogan hyped to see what McGregor could do in the Octagon.
Such was the hype behind McGregor that many bookmakers had him down as even odds in the UFC Fight Night Odds to win by knockout.
Heading into this bout McGregor barely slept a wink, not through nerves but from the nagging and persistent tooth pain. Rather than using this as an excuse ahead of the biggest fight of his career he saw his toothache and lack of sleep as just more obstacles to overcome.
In the end it was Brimmage who was left languishing in pain as McGregor knocked him out to claim his first victory on the UFC stage and officially announce himself to the wider fighting public.
(Toothache or not, McGregor was in top form on his UFC debut.)
Chad Mendes
July 11, 2015
Las Vegas, United States
After knocking out Marcus Brimmage in Stockholm, Conor McGregor wasted no time in becoming one of the biggest names in world fighting. His performances in the Octagon were only matched by his performances out of it where he charmed and dazzled the public.
UFC 189 was hyped to be the moment in which McGregor stamped his authority on UFC and took the undisputed Featherweight Championship by beating the highly versatile and resilient Jose Aldo.
Unfortunately for McGregor and UFC fans, Aldo had to pull out of the clash after suffering a fractured rib in mid-June.
Chad Mendes fought in his place and was duly dispatched via TKO which saw McGregor claim the interim Featherweight Championship.
Jose Aldo
December 12, 2015
Las Vegas, United States
Following McGregor’s victory over Mendes and Aldo’s recovery from injury the hotly anticipated fight between the two was rescheduled for December 12 at UFC 194. If the Irishman could win he would become the undisputed UFC Featherweight Champion.
McGregor managed not only to do just that but also to write himself into the legend book of UFC with a stunning and devastating 13 second knockout. The left hook that sent Aldo to sleep brought to an end the Brazilian’s seven yearlong WEC and UFC title reign and ended his eighteen fight winning streak.
It was quite simply, one of the most stunning and shocking fight moments of the 21st century.
(It was an expensive night for Pay Per Viewers…)
Nate Diaz
March 5, 2016
Las Vegas, United States
Sport is one of the most unforgiving industries on the planet and just as quickly as it can make you a hero, it can also make you into a chump. At UFC 196 Conor McGregor waltzed into the octagon to take on Nate Diaz with the gathered crowd expecting more fireworks from the Irishman.
Instead they witnessed him tapping out after four minutes in the second round after failing to make a mark on the fight. The Stockton Slap administered to McGregor in the first round of the fight perhaps hurt him more than being forced to tap out.
As they say though, adversity reveals…
Eddie Alvarez
November 12, 2016
New York, United States
The comeback has to be greater than the setback. That’s the mantra that Conor McGregor lived by following his loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 196 and it served him well. In July of that year he returned to the Octagon for a rematch against Diaz and emerged victorious via majority decision.
Keen not to rest on his laurels McGregor then took on Alvarez in the winter of the same year in New York for the Lightweight Championship. In stark contrast to that first fight against Diaz, McGregor was on top form throughout finishing the clash in the second round via TKO.
In doing so he became Two-Division champion, something that had never been done before in the UFC.
(McGregor made history with this victory.)
