McGregor last fought Poirier at UFC 178 in 2014, delivering a resounding “Performance of the Night” and first round TKO win, which whipped the UFC world into a frenzy. Now, McGregor looks to reestablish himself as a contender and potential lightweight belt holder, but first, how did the kid from Crumlin wind up as the UFC’s biggest star of all-time?
Biography
McGregor was born in 1988 and raised in Crumlin, a southside working class neighbourhood in Ireland’s capital. McGregor first had a love for football, but found that having to defend himself in the mean streets of Dublin, and learning how to fight, became paramount.
In 2006, he moved just west of Dublin and began work as a plumber’s apprentice, but quickly fell in love with mixed martial arts, making his debut in 2007 at the age of 18, securing a TKO victory. He then quit his job to focus on the sport full-time.
McGregor carved out an impressive resume in smaller fight circuits in Ireland and all over Europe. His reputation quickly grew as an electric fighter who could not only deliver impressive knockouts, but also trash talk with the best of them and help bring exposure to the sport.
UFC president Dana White took notice of McGregor’s raw, natural talent and showmanship, making a trip to Dublin where he was bombarded with fans telling him to sign the up-and-coming star. His nickname “Notorious” comes from late American rapper Notorious B.I.G., whose music McGregor has used as walkout songs on numerous occasions.
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White listened to the Irish fans and signed McGregor, who would make his UFC debut in April of 2013, knocking out Marcus Brimage and earning “Knockout of the Night” honours to show he had officially arrived on the scene.
Net worth
Since his blue-collar days in Ireland where he was being chased by the Irish Debt Bureau and on social assistance because of financial hardship, McGregor has skyrocketed to the sport’s most lucrative star and become a rags-to-riches success story for the ages.
Estimates from Forbes’ richest athletes list for 2020 has McGregor’s net value at US$48 million. He is ranked 53rd on the Forbes Top 100 Celebrities List, and 16th on the Highest Paid Athletes list, behind F1 driver Lewis Hamilton (13th) but ahead of Brooklyn Nets basketball superstar James Harden (17th).
Forbes breaks down McGregor’s earnings as US$32 million in winnings from fights and US$16 million in endorsements with companies such as Electronic Arts, Reebok (a deal which nets him US$5 million a year) and Wynn Resorts.
McGregor also founded his own Irish whiskey brand Proper No. Twelve in 2018, and it is now available around the world. The alcohol line has been valued at over US$1 billion and could be the fighter’s most lucrative endeavour, aside from his boxing match with Floyd Mayweather in 2017 from which he reportedly made US$85 million.Fighting style
McGregor, who has only fought twice inside the Octagon since November of 2016, is known as one of the UFC’s most explosive punchers with raw, natural striking talent and agility. McGregor, who fights as a southpaw most of the time, uses both his reach and counter-attack to prey on opponents who give him openings during stand-up fights.
It is on the ground where his game is not as sharp, with former lightweight title-holder Khabib Nurmagomedov exposing his grappling as not being championship calibre when he beat McGregor at UFC 229 in October, 2018. Nurmagomedov, widely regarded as having the most lethal wrestling skills, submitted McGregor via a neck crank in the fourth round of their championship fight.
While Cerrone didn’t present a massive challenge for McGregor, his rematch with a much improved Poirier will be much more of a test for “Notorious”.
Upcoming fight
UFC 257: Poirier vs McGregor 2, which will take place on Sunday, comes at an interesting time in the UFC, and especially the lightweight division.
Nurmagomedov, who beat Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October, announced his retirement from fighting soon afterwards. This created an opening for the hotly contested division, which includes Dan Hooker, who is fighting this weekend against former Bellator champ Michael Chandler.
If McGregor can beat Poirier, he puts himself at the top of the list for the vacated belt, but Poirier is a much-improved fighter since they last met in 2014 at featherweight. After the bout, Poirier moved up a weight class to lightweight and has since amassed an impressive record, which includes 10 wins in 13 bouts.
