Conor McGregor: Return to the octagon after years of controversy?

The Rise and Fall of Conor McGregor: A Detailed Analysis

The image of Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor facing each other, captured by Esther Lin’s lens on July 12, 2017, marked a milestone. This encounter, part of the promotional tour for their boxing match on August 26, 2017, symbolized the realization of a fantasy for the fans. McGregor, impeccably dressed, and Mayweather, with his characteristic style, starred in an unforgettable moment. The crowd gathered in Toronto, where the second stop of the tour took place, reflected the growing popularity of McGregor, who was already emerging as one of the biggest attractions in combat sports. This event was not just a fight, but a global phenomenon that captured everyone’s imagination. However, what began as a tour between two superstars turned into a series of provocations and a display of egos, revealing McGregor’s less favorable side. The friendly atmosphere vanished, replaced by comments with racist and homophobic undertones. Mayweather, accustomed to attention, and McGregor, who was just beginning to experience fame, underwent a transformation. Lin, who has portrayed both fighters, commented that McGregor took advantage of the situation to consolidate his position at the top. A month later, Mayweather defeated McGregor in the tenth round. Although the defeat was hard, the financial compensation was considerable. McGregor, according to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, secured a purse of 30 million dollars, which, including income from pay-per-view, sponsorships and merchandise sales, exceeded 100 million. This event generated 4.3 million pay-per-view purchases.

This payment far exceeded the $6.8 million McGregor had previously earned by winning the UFC lightweight championship. Dana White, UFC president, acknowledged that the previous McGregor had changed. “Money changes everything,” White stated.

Since that night against Mayweather, McGregor has sought to regain the professional and economic summit. However, the results have been mixed, with only one victory in the UFC and numerous setbacks, including arrests, injuries, lawsuits, and accusations of sexual assault.

• November 10, 2017: McGregor returns to MMA to support his SBG Ireland teammate, Charlie Ward, at Bellator 187 in Dublin.
• March 2, 2018: Dana White announces the intention to strip McGregor of the lightweight title due to his inactivity.
• April 5, 2018: McGregor attacks a bus carrying UFC fighters, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, during the UFC 223 press day.

On August 3, 2018, McGregor’s return was announced to challenge Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title at UFC 229 on October 6, 2018. Despite concerns about his behavior, White downplayed the idea that McGregor had lost his ambition. The rivalry between McGregor and Nurmagomedov intensified, with McGregor crossing religious and cultural lines in his provocations.

“For me, this is more than defending my title. For me, it’s more than a title fight, more than a main event. For me, it’s personal”.

Khabib Nurmagomedov

At UFC 229, Nurmagomedov dominated McGregor, forcing him to submit in the fourth round. After the fight, a brawl broke out between the teams, resulting in suspensions and fines. Despite the controversy, the event solidified McGregor as the biggest star in the UFC, setting attendance and pay-per-view purchase records.

“He had a dream in his life to become something. He became a champion and then everything else came. That distraction, it attracts you, it attracts you, it takes you away from what you wanted to be in the first place”.

Colin Byrne, McGregor’s coach

• September 11, 2018: Michael Chiesa sues McGregor.
• March 11, 2019: McGregor is arrested and charged with robbery and vandalism.
• March 26, 2019: The New York Times reports on a sexual assault investigation at a Dublin hotel in December 2018.
• August 15, 2019: TMZ publishes a video from April of McGregor punching Desmond Keogh in a pub.
• November 1, 2019: McGregor pleads guilty to assault and is fined.

On November 28, 2019, the UFC announced McGregor’s return to the octagon at UFC 246 against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. McGregor showed respect for his opponent, which contrasted with his previous encounters. In the fight, McGregor defeated Cerrone in 40 seconds. White planned a fight with the winner of the lightweight title fight between Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson, but the COVID-19 pandemic altered the plans. The sports world was expecting a showdown between McGregor and Dustin Poirier. In 2014, McGregor had won by TKO, but at UFC 257, Poirier got his revenge, knocking out McGregor in the second round. McGregor blamed inactivity for the loss.

On June 7, 2020, McGregor announced his retirement, although the UFC continued to organize events. On September 10, 2020, he was arrested in Corsica on suspicion of sexual assault, but was released without charges.

In UFC 264, the trilogy between McGregor and Poirier took place. The rivalry intensified, with McGregor resuming the style of provocation. However, in the first round, McGregor suffered a tibia fracture, which led to Poirier’s victory by TKO.

• July 11, 2021: McGregor undergoes surgery for a fractured tibia and fibula.
• September 12, 2021: McGregor gets into a fight with rapper Machine Gun Kelly at the MTV Video Music Awards.
• October 16, 2021: Francesco Facchinetti claims that McGregor punched him in a nightclub.
• November 22, 2021: McGregor announces on social media that he will fight for the lightweight title.
• January 12, 2022: McGregor’s pub, The Black Forge Inn, is attacked with petrol bombs.
• March 18, 2022: McGregor challenges Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title.
• March 22, 2022: McGregor is arrested in Dublin for six traffic offenses.

Despite the defeats, McGregor’s appeal remains strong. Michael Chandler caught McGregor’s attention, leading to the expectation of a match. On February 4, 2023, the UFC announced that McGregor and Chandler would be coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter” season 31, with the intention of them facing each other in the octagon.