The Notorious one Bhai this man he’s not just a fighter he’s a whole vibe! Forget your clean-cut sports stars this is pure Mumbai local train chaos in human form only with more tattoos and a better left hand. The dude came from Crumlin Dublin pure working-class town you know Like our own Dharavi but with more rain and less chai stalls. Everyone there either kicked a ball or threw fists. Guess which one Conor chose Both actually! Initially he was this skinny chap shortest in class always getting into scraps. My dad he always says “Beta if you can’t fight, at least run fast!” Conor he learned to fight boss. One time he had some kerfuffle with a girl from school next thing you know ten fellas jump him. After that Dumbbell in the backpack yaar! Like a legit street fighter from a Bollywood movie You think its crazy Nah thats just Dublin!
His grandpa Christopher total old-school boxer. Died early but Conor always carries his old hat a faded black-and-white photo medals shining. Like a lucky charm no And his dad Tony McGregor pure taxi driver vibes 26 years in a cab! Also an orderly in a hospital where his “long-awaited son” popped out. My chacha he swears Conor was born clenching his tiny fists midwife even told his mom “Madam this boy will be a fighter!” See Destiny not just some random fluke. Thats a true story can’t make this up! My own uncle though he actually thought UFC was some new bank for rich folks to invest in man seriously! “UFC Is it like a mutual fund beta?” No chacha it’s where people punch each other for a living!
So at 12 this little firecracker enters the Crumlin boxing gym. Mom wasnt thrilled but Conor came back beaming “Why didn’t you give me boxing books earlier?” Boss you know when something just clicks That was it. Phil Sutcliffe an Olympian he was Conor’s first coach. And he trained with proper pros Dean Byrne Jamie Kavanagh. Extremely focused always wanted to be a good boxer. Some folks say he was an Irish junior champ nah just won some local tourneys but Sutcliffe taught him the proper jabbing the footwork the feints. Conor even then confident as hell in the ring unpredictable total showman.
Then at 16 family moves to a big house in Lucan. New school he hated it. But there he meets Tom Egan who was into karate kickboxing jiu-jitsu. And guess what They’re secretly chatting about Ultimate Fighter episodes during class! MMA thats where the real fun was. Conor tried kickboxing but the gym was too far logistics nightmare you know He focused on boxing again for a bit. But MMA had him hooked. He turns the barn in his backyard into a training room! Like a desi jugaad but for fighting! He watched Muhammad Ali fights Bruce Lee movies Chuck Liddell highlights. “I’m inspired by people who chase dreams bhai.” He told everyone his body works different he needed all combat disciplines not just one.
Problem was he kept telling Sutcliffe he couldn’t make evening training. Coach was pissed! He wanted Conor to be a national boxing champ minimum. But Conor “I don’t like this sport it’s barbaric” he said talking about hitting someone when they’re down. He thought it was like street fights. True boxing is noble but MMA… its a different beast more like a full-on brawl.
End of 2006 he walks into John Kavanagh’s Straight Blast Gym. Skinny kid shaved head with Egan. “This is my friend Conor McGregor been boxing wants to try MMA.” And what did this guy say First conversation straight up I’m the future UFC champion!” John Kavanagh must’ve thought Kaisi pagal ladka hai yeh?” (What kind of crazy kid is this?). First sparring boom he cracks Kavanagh with a left! Kavanagh submits him on the ground but Conor’s eyes Full of pure confidence like he’s saying “I’d knock you out if I wanted to boss!” Then this madman he knocks down Aoife a girl sparring with him. Not painful but a solar plexus shot. John was furious! He jumps in puts Conor on his back graund and pounds him till he’s gassed. “You wanna do MMA This is MMA!” Conor gets up looks at him Yes I deserve it.” Respect yaar. That’s why he got the nickname “The Notorious” or in John’s phonebook “Walking Problem.” Hahaha! My neighbour’s kid once trained by punching a hanging sack of mangoes in his backyard said it built “pre-fite mango power.” Maybe Conor did that too you never know!
Then came the plumbing phase Parents bless their hearts paid lakhs of rupees for his plumbing internship. “Beta achhi naukri kar le.” (Son, get a good job.) He’d wake at 5 AM take a long commute. His dad Tony used to drop him just to make sure he was actually going! For over a year this torture. One Monday 5 AM Tony tries to wake him up. Conor from under the blanket “Listen this is not for me.” Dad knew Finished. He told his parents At 25 I’ll be a millionaire.” Dad laughed! Like full-on guffaw Hahahaha! Kya bakwaas hai!” (What nonsense!)
First amateur fight Early 2007. Knocks out his opponent in the first round Jumps around throws his mouthguard into the crowd HITS SOMEONE IN THE FACE! What a legend! Then pro debut wins two by TKO. But his third fight Against some Lithuanian Artemij Sitenkov. Conor typical overconfident self I’ll knock him out in the first round!” At weigh-ins he even tells the Lithuanian’s coach I’ll beat you up!” Haha! The fite lasts 69 seconds. Sitenkov gets him to the ground kneebar TAP! First loss His parents were there for the first time! Conor burst into tears ran out of the cage disappeared. What a scene!
And financially he was a mess! Took 25 tickets to sell for 500 euros spent it all hoping prize money would cover. He lost! Disappeared from the gym for weeks. Kavanagh kept calling no answer. Finally his mom calls John asks him to come to Lucan talk to Conor. Total family intervention! John gets him back but on one condition admit you screwed up. Conor did Thats resilience bhai. You fall down you get back up you pay your dues.
Then came Joe Duffy a few years later. Another lightning-fast loss 38 seconds triangle choke. But this time Conor’s in the gym the next day. “Shit happens. I was wrong. Help me fix it.” That’s the real champ mindset! He worked on his BJJ his grappling. Like a man possessed yaar. He starts crushing guys in Cage Warriors Wins the featherweight title then the lightweight! Two belts simultaneous champion! His dad still a bit skeptical but relief in his eyes. My dad said “This kid he’s like a fiter who eats only Irish stew for a month before a fite thinks it gives him ancient warrior strength.” Pure madness but it works!
Then the UFC call came man! Conor living on unemployment benefits 188 euros a week! His girlfriend Dee Devlin driving him around in her old Peugeot supporting him. Gunnar Nelson’s dad calls John: Sean Shelby wants Conor for Sweden April 6th card. $8k to show $8k to win. John calls Conor he’s avoiding calls skipped training. John practically yells down the phone Are you serious You wanna fite in April or what?!” Conor’s guilty voice “Yes I’m ready!”
Just before that Dana White was in Dublin everyone talking about Conor. Danas like I don’t know if this guy can fite but if you put him in he’ll be a superstar. They fly to Sweden five days before the fite. Conor stops at the post office first to collect his unemployment benefits! John’s panicking about missing the flight but Conor’s cool as a cucumber taking photos with fans in line. No sponsor he walks out in his own shorts with an Irish flag he found in the locker room. BOOM! Marcus Brimage knocked out in 60 seconds! Takes the mic epic speech! $60,000 bonus! More than he earned in 24 years! Dana White “I’m just in shock… he entered the octagon as if it was his 100th fite!”
“I was getting 188 euros in unemployment benefits and now I’m sitting here with 60,000!” That’s the line bhai! In just a year and a half he was a millionaire. The Cuchulainn legend that old Celtic warrior grew up fighting became the best. Conor McGregor Same story but real. From nothing to everything Total dhamaal! What a journey!