Five years since his last UFC appearance, Conor McGregor remains one of combat sports’ most compelling figures.
As he eyes another return, revisit the moments that built, challenged and forever defined “The Notorious.”
Follow the defining moments of Conor McGregor's UFC career — from his earliest victories and championship reign to legendary rivalries, historic achievements and the setbacks that tested his legacy.
Before the sold-out arenas, championship belts and global fame, there was a young fighter from Dublin chasing an impossible dream. Working as a plumber while competing across Ireland, McGregor bet everything on becoming a world champion. Long before the UFC knew his name, he had already convinced himself — and eventually everyone around him — that greatness was inevitable.
McGregor began fighting professionally throughout Ireland while working as a plumber to support himself. Eventually, he walked away from a stable career and lived on welfare so he could pursue MMA full time. It was the first major gamble of his career.
McGregor closed out 2012 by becoming the first simultaneous two-division champion in Cage Warriors history. The performance earned him what he’s been chasing all along — a call from the UFC.
McGregor entered the UFC exactly as he promised he would — with a spectacular knockout and a microphone in his hand. Overnight, the outspoken Irish prospect became one of the sport’s fastest-rising stars.
It took just 67 seconds for McGregor to introduce himself to the UFC. A devastating knockout over Marcus Brimage announced the arrival of a future superstar.
With every fight, McGregor’s audience grew. Ireland embraced him as a national icon, his predictions continued coming true, and the UFC discovered it had a once-in-a-generation talent.
We’re not just here to take part, we’re here to take over.
Months before fighting José Aldo, McGregor stole the spotlight during a massive UFC press conference. Every appearance became must-watch television.
After predicting exactly how the fight would end, McGregor knocked out José Aldo in just 13 seconds to become UFC featherweight champion, setting the record for the fastest title fight in UFC history. One punch turned prediction into legend.
No fighter has ever commanded attention quite like Conor McGregor in 2016. Every press conference became a spectacle, every quote became a headline and every fight felt like a global event.
Few rivalries have blurred the line between sport and spectacle like Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz. Fueled by unforgettable press conferences, relentless trash talk and two unforgettable battles inside the Octagon, their rivalry became one of the defining chapters in UFC history.
For the first time in the UFC, McGregor’s confidence isn’t enough. After dominating early exchanges, Nate Diaz survived the storm, mounted a comeback and handed McGregor his first UFC defeat by submission.
McGregor answered the biggest question of his career by defeating Nate Diaz in an unforgettable rematch, proving he can overcome adversity on the sport’s biggest stage.
Every prediction led to this moment. Under the bright lights of UFC 205, Conor McGregor backed up years of bold promises with a flawless victory over Eddie Alvarez, making history as the UFC’s first-ever simultaneous two-division champion.
I’d like to take this chance to apologize …to absolutely nobody!
After reaching heights no fighter had ever experienced, McGregor’s career entered its most turbulent chapter. From the infamous bus incident to the fever-pitch buildup of his clash with Khabib Nurmagomedov, the spectacle outside the cage became as explosive as the fights themselves.
Seeking revenge for his teammate Artem Lobov, McGregor stormed a fighter bus at UFC 223 media day. The footage circulated worldwide and became one of the most controversial moments in UFC history.
Years of trash talk culminated in the biggest fight in UFC history. McGregor ultimately fell to Khabib Nurmagomedov by submission in one of the sport’s most unforgettable nights — inside and outside the Octagon.
After nearly two years away, McGregor returned looking as sharp as ever, dismantling Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in just 40 seconds and reigniting hopes of another championship run.
The rivalry with Dustin Poirier marked a turning point in Conor’s story. Against Poirier, McGregor faced two of the most difficult nights of his career: his first knockout defeat and a devastating leg injury that ended their trilogy before it could truly unfold. It was a chapter defined not by triumph, but by resilience in the face of heartbreak.
