Carrying the nickname Notorious, Conor McGregor has taken the MMA world through a whirlwind of victories and controversies. But who was he before his massive wealth and fame? Read more about his life, career, and Conor McGregor net worth.
In 2021, Forbes declared the mixed martial arts champ, the world’s highest-paid athlete.
Recently, Conor McGregor net worth was estimated at $200 million. One of the highlights of his career is the ongoing rivalry between him and Nick Diaz’s brother, UFC superstar, Nate Diaz.
McGregor boasts an impressive 22 wins and 6 losses in 28 career matches. His victories include 19 knockouts, 1 submission, and 2 by decision. His losses are broken down to 4 by submission and 2 knockouts. His most recent match was a loss due to a TKO against Dustin Poirier.
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Conor McGregor Short Bio
He was born Conor Anthony McGregor, on July 14, 1988 in Ireland. He grew up in a modest household, with his parents, Tony and Margaret. The family lived in Crumlin, the historic county of Antrim, in North-Ireland.
McGregor stands at 5 feet and 9 inches. He was shorter than most kids his age and an easy pick for bullies. He found an interest in boxing and began training at age 12 to defend himself.
On top of boxing, McGregor spent most of his youth enjoying other sports like soccer, and he even once played for Lourdes Celtic Football Club.
At eighteen, McGregor and his family moved to the town of Lucan, just west of Dublin. That’s where he attended Gaelcholáiste Coláiste Cois Life. After he graduated, Conor took up an apprenticeship as a plumber. It seemed that going pro didn’t really come to mind til later.
Becoming a skilled worker opens countless lucrative opportunities, and McGregor never second-guessed his original career path until he met the then UFC trainee, Tom Egan.
Conor McGregor’s Professional Career
McGregor’s MMA Debut
Eighteen-year-old Conor McGregor debuted as a mixed martial artist in February of 2007, in a promotion bout for the Irish Ring of Truth. He surprised the spectators by defeating Kieran Campbel via technical knockout (TKO), within the first round of the amateur fight.
McGregor was offered to sign with the Irish Cage of Truth promotion early the following year.
March 9, 2008, was the date that McGregor first stepped into the MMA ring as a professional fighter. He started as a lightweight contender, then later stepped into the featherweight and welterweight divisions after gaining enough experience against his many opponents.
His first MMA match was against Gary Morris. McGregor ended their bout in just two rounds with a powerful punch, resulting in another explosive victory by technical knockout.
We see McGregor grow like wildfire, his fame and prowess plastered in magazines and headlined on the news. But believe it or not, there was a time that the fighter who was later known as “Notorious” tried to retreat from MMA to take a different career path.
Still, in 2008, McGregor had already fought five career matches in the same year. He bagged three wins against Gary Morris, Mo Taylor, and Stephen Bailey. Conor experienced his first loss through submission via kneebar, when he faced Russia’s Artemij Sitenkov.
After winning his fourth fight against Stephen Bailey, McGregor considered stepping down early. No one could blame the then twenty-year-old Conor if the MMA world seemed a bit intimidating. But after receiving encouragement from his mother, Conor clenched his teeth and decided to give MMA a few more tries.
His decision to stay proved to be the correct one. By 2011, McGregor was winning in streaks within featherweight and lightweight divisions. After winning the championship belts from both categories, he also made history and became the first European mixed martial artist to hold two division titles.
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Matches vs. McGregor Prior to UFC – 2008 to 2012
- March 8, 2008 vs Gary Morris – win by TKO
- May 3, 2008 vs Mo Taylor – win by TKO
- June 28, 2008 vs Artemij Sitenkov – loss by Submission
- December 12, 2008 vs Stephen Bailey – win by TKO
- October 9, 2010 vs Conor Dillon – win by TKO
- November 27, 2010 vs Joseph Duffy – loss by Submission
- February 12, 2011 vs Hugh Brady – win by TKO
- March 12, 2011 vs Mike Wood – win by KO
- April 16, 2011 vs Paddy Doherty – win by KO
- June 11, 2011 vs Arthur Sowinski – win by TKO
- September 8, 2011 vs Aaron Jahnsen – win by TKO
- February 18, 2012 vs Steve O’Keefe – win by KO
- June 2, 2012 vs Dave Hill – win by Submission
- December 31, 2012 vs Ivan Buchinger – win by KO
Conor McGregor’s UFC Career
Conor’s career with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) began in February of 2013, after signing a multi-fight contract with the company. His debut fight was with Marcus Brimage on Fuel TV: Mousasi vs. Latifi, which took place on the 13th of April, in Stockholm, Sweden.
McGregor emerged as the victor in just 67 seconds after knocking out Brimage in the first round.
A last-minute swap occurred for McGregor’s second match, scheduled for August that same year. The man he was fighting, Jose Aldo, backed out due to an injury that resulted in a technical win for McGregor. He was then set to face Max Holloway for the rescheduled big event.
The seemingly good year ended abruptly after it was found that McGregor had sustained a torn ACL. The injury required major surgery that requires at least ten months of recovery,
He made a comeback eleven months later, on July 19th, 2014, for UFC Fight Night 46. The fight was held in Conor’s hometown of Dublin, Ireland. But, again, another switch due to injury happened, so instead of facing Cole Miller, McGregor stood in the ring with Second-Degree Brazilian Jiu-jitsu master Diego Brandao.
The match ended four minutes into the first round after the referee stopped the fight and declared another TKO win in favor of Conor McGregor.
Conor McGregor Net Worth – UFC Career Highlights
- Former Interim Featherweight Champion Dustin Poirier suffered his first loss by technical knockout on 27 September 2014 at UFC 178.
- It’s been reported that the Featherweight Championship bout between Bazil’s Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor was the most promoted (in terms of expenditures) fight in UFC history. The event was originally scheduled for July 11, 2015, at UFC 189.
- Unfortunately, after UFC spent so much for the event, Aldo had to be switched due to a broken rib. McGregor was then matched with Chad Mendez for the Interim Featherweight Championship belt.
- December 12, 2015, McGregor takes Jose Aldo down with a left hook. The fight ended just 13 seconds into the first round, officially marking the win as the fastest knockout in the history of UFC for a title match.
- McGregor suffered his first UFC loss to Nate Diaz via submission on March 5, 2016, at UFC 196.
- The rematch between Diaz and McGregor on UFC 200 aired July 9th, 2016, was the highest-selling pay-per-view in UFC history.
- On November 26th, 2016, McGregor lost his Featherweight Championship title to Jose Aldo due to his inactivity in the division.
- On April 7th, 2018, McGregor was also stripped of his UFC Lightweight Championship, again due to inactivity. On October 6, 2018, he made a comeback and won against Khabib Nurmagomedov to reclaim the UFC Lightweight Championship.
- In March of 2019, Conor McGregor announced his retirement from UFC and MMA. But it only took McGregor a year of hiatus, and he was seen stepping into the Octagon once again.
Connor McGregor’s Boxing Career
We have to mention McGregor’s boxing stint. And for those wondering how a seasoned fighter like “Notorious,” who is used to taking down opponents armed with varying fighting styles, could lose in the 2017 WBC Money Belt fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
First, the most obvious explanation is that the whole thing could just be a “show.” The pot was $100 million, and even if he loses (which he did), McGregor had an assured $30 million. And aside from the event being a PPV success, the fight also raised over $55.4 million in ticket sales.
McGregor cashed out $130 million with a loss, and Mayweather received $230 million.
Another thing that explains Conor McGregor net worth was his entrepreneurial ventures. He co-founded a whiskey brand that sold for $600 million, split three ways.
McGregor may have been quite the controversial athlete, with numerous issues that mostly involved the authorities. But as an athlete, he pretty much achieved the peak of his career.
Conor McGregor Net Worth – Frequently Asked Questions
How Much is Conor McGregor Net Worth?
Conor McGregor net worth is estimated at no less than $200 million. McGregor began his professional career in 2007 and received his first deal the following year.
Who is the Richest UFC Fighter?
Forbes named the MMA fighter the highest-paid athlete, with an astounding income of $180 million. Today, Conor McGregor net worth is estimated at no less than $200 million.
How Much did Conor McGregor Sell his Proper 12 Whiskey Brand?
Conor McGregor and the co-founders of Proper No. 12 sold their brand to American importer and global distributor Proximo Inc. for a whopping $600 million.
Is Conor McGregor Retired?
Conor mentioned retirement on a few other occasions after his first claim in 2019. But according to, UFC President Dana White stated that McGregor is aiming for an ownership stake in the company.
Conor McGregor Net Worth – Final Thoughts
Conor McGregor’s career can be described as extraordinary. To think that he once considered leaving a potentially great opportunity early in his life, but because he had the support of the people around him, Conor was able to reach greatness at a legendary level.
Though some may raise the tumultuous parts that came with wealth and fame, McGregor made arrangements for his family’s future after UFC and MMA, in the form of investments.
Notorious is still just in his 30s, and despite announcing his retirement on social media and other platforms numerous times, it seems that McGregor will continue to compete in the Octagon.
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