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The five-round welterweight bout between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz is the absolute highlight of UFC 202 on August 20th in Las Vegas. In anticipation of the rematch, this is the perfect occasion to look back on the career of one of the lately most-discussed fighters – The Notorious Conor McGregor.
The Early Days
At the age of twelve, Conor McGregor took up boxing at Crumlin Boxing Gym and won a number of amateur boxing titles. Thanks to Tom Egan – long-time friend of McGregor and also first Irish athlete ever to sign with UFC - six years later young McGregor started a mixed martial arts class at Straight Blast Gym(SBG), whose owner and head coach is John Kavanagh. Kavanagh recognized the Dubliner’s talent and in February 2007 McGregor finished Ciaran Campbell “with a striking showcase in the first round” at his first amateur MMA bout.
The Notorious Rising
In March 2008 McGregor made his professional debut, defeating his Irish compatriot Gary Morris in the Cage of Truth organisation and May 2008 he won his second fight as a professional against Mo Taylor via TKO. However, one month later Lithuanian Artmj Sitenkov showed the Irish young buck his limits and beat him. Without McGregor’s mother, Mags, who called John Kavanagh to encourage her son to return to the gym, Conor McGregor would have turned his back on the sports of MMA after this loss. McGregor continued and decided to move up to lightweight in November 2010. In little more than 30 seconds McGregor was submitted by Joe Duffy, but unlike his last defeat this loss helped the Irishman to find a new dedication to training –an unbelievable 15-fight winning streak followed.
Tears and Titles
In June 2011 a second round win over Arthur Sowinski made Conor McGregor a Cage Warrior, as which he “quickly proved to be a stellar addition to the roster.” The Irishman finally got a title shot against Dave Hill in June 2012, after he had moved to the featherweight division and had defeated Steven O’Keefe during the first-round in September 2011. The Cage Warrior’s title bout took place in Dublin and allegedly “the intensity that McGregor displayed at the event’s weight-in had such an impact on his English opponent” that he started crying after “going nose to nose with ‘The Notorious’.” On New Year’s Eve McGregor successfully defended his belt against Ivan Buchinger which”sent McGregor’s star on the ascent.”
The UFC
In April 2013, Conor McGregor made his UFC debut and bowled the crowd over in Stockholm, Sweden. Not only did he knock out his opponent Marcus Brimage but also –cheeky as his fans love him – he called for a bonus after the fight: “Hey Dana, 50 G’s baby!”
In August 2013 Conor McGregor -in a bout against Max Holloway - suffered a torn ACL, which would keep him outside the cage for almost a whole year. But the Irishman made a big return in his hometown Dublin, where he knocked out the Brazilian fighter Diego Brandao during the first round. A TKO over Dustin Prior and Dennis Siver in September 2014 and January 2015 followed. In order to promote UFC 189: Aldo vs. McGregor the Irishman then joined UFC’s very first world press tour, visiting eight cities in five countries in March 2012. Unfortunately, Jose Aldo injured his rib and was forced to drop out of the competition and McGregor defeated late replacement Chad Mendes instead. In December 2015 Conor McGregor finally got the chance to fight champion Jose Aldo. Within just 13 seconds ‘The Notorious’ shattered the 10-year undefeated reign of Aldo.
2016:
Conor McGregor is not one to rest on his laurels and announced to move up to lightweight after his memorable win over Jose Aldo. McGregor was meant to face Rafael Dos Anjos in the cage, but the Brazilian got injured one month prior the fight and instead of the lightweight champion McGregor suddenly was to fight welterweight Nate Diaz. Diaz finished the Irishman’s 15-fight winning streak in one of the most highly anticipated match-ups in UFC history - a hype only topped by the rematch, which takes place in Las Vegas in little more than one weeks time.
Conor McGregor, a fighter the fans – as it appears- either love or hate and nothing in-between. But whether you watch UFC 202 to see the Irishman win or lose, his record certainly proves: ‘The Notorious’ knows how to fight.
