UFC: Conor McGregor in profile

bet365 News Team Updated: 13 Feb 24 15:16

Everything you need to know about mixed martial artist and UFC star Conor McGregor.

Conor McGregor

Born:	14th July, 1988
Age:	35
Birthplace:	Dublin, Ireland
Resides:	Dublin, Ireland
Height:	5ft 9inches
Reach:	74 inches
Style:	Southpaw
Weight Division:	Lightweight
MMA Record	28-2 (19ko)
Next Fight:	Michael Chandler, 2024 TBC

Conor McGregor next fight

Though not officially confirmed, Conor McGregor's next fight is set to be against Michael Chandler, and could be at UFC 300.

A coaching role on Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Chandler was supposed to set the stage for McGregor to compete again for the first time in more than two years, and although there were hopes the pair would meet in 2023, the bout won't take place until 2024.

The long-awaited return of McGregor was recently confirmed by UFC president Dana White, who suggested that McGregor could step back into the Octagon next summer.

White, speaking at UFC 295, confirmed he had spoken to the Dublin-based fighter recently, and that McGregor's first step was to get back into the drug-testing pool.

UFC debut in 2013

McGregor made his UFC debut against Marcus Brimage on 6th April 2013 after signing a multi-fight contract. He won the fight by knockout in round one and also earned his first 'Knockout of the Night' award.

McGregor shows championship standard

Following his debut win, McGregor would go on to win his next six fights including a victory over Dennis Siver on 18th January 2015 at UFC Fight Night 59. He won the fight via TKO in the second round and earned his third straight 'Performance of the Night' award.

That success set up the biggest fight of McGregor's career to date and the highly-anticipated bout with Jose Aldo was announced on 30th January 2015.

McGregor declared that he was expected to face Aldo on 11th July 2015 at UFC 189 for the undisputed UFC Featherweight Championship, during the UFC's annual International Fight Week. The fight took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The UFC, confident that the fight would exceed expectations, increased the promotional budget for the event, with UFC President White stating that "the UFC spent more money promoting Aldo–McGregor than any fight in UFC history".

Mendes steps in for Aldo

However, on 23rd June, it was reported that Aldo had suffered a rib fracture and had pulled out of the bout as a consequence. McGregor remained on the card and was rescheduled to face Chad Mendes for the Interim Featherweight Championship, which he won via TKO.

McGregor then took part in UFC's The Ultimate Fighter, in which he coached against Urijah Faber. Faber's team member Ryan Hall ended up winning the competition.

On 10th August, it was announced McGregor would finally face Aldo for the UFC Featherweight Championship on 12th December.

The much-hyped contest was over quickly, though, as McGregor knocked out Aldo thirteen seconds into the first round with a left hook, ending his seven-year-long WEC and UFC title reign and eighteen-fight win streak to claim the title, earning the 'Performance of the Night' bonus as well.

This finish marked the fastest knockout in a title bout in UFC history.

First UFC loss

McGregor faced The Ultimate Fighter Season 5 winner, and former UFC Lightweight Championship challenger, Nate Diaz, on 5th March 2016 at UFC 196 in a welterweight bout, but it ended badly for the Dublin fighter who tapped out in the second round.

Both competitors were awarded 'Fight of the Night' bonuses, and McGregor received the highest disclosed purse of any fighter in the history of the company to that point.

Rematch with Diaz

A rematch with Diaz was scheduled for 9th July at UFC 200. However, on 19th April, the UFC announced that McGregor had been pulled from the event after failing to fulfil media obligations related to the fight.

The rescheduled fight eventually took place the following month, and McGregor won it via majority decision, while the event broke the record previously held by UFC 100 for the highest selling pay-per-view in UFC history.

McGregor back on top

McGregor's next bout would come against Eddie Alvarez for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 205.

McGregor wasted little time in the bout and landed a multiple-punch combination to stop his opponent via technical knockout in the second round.

This result marked the first time a competitor had held UFC championships in two different weight classes, and is widely considered one of McGregor's best performances.

Titles taken away

It was initially announced that McGregor had vacated the Featherweight Championship following his inactivity in the division, therefore promoting Aldo to undisputed champion.

McGregor's coach, however, confirmed further reports which stated that McGregor had actually been stripped of the title.

Mixed bag for McGregor

Following a lengthy break, McGregor took part in a much-hyped boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr, but the fight ended in the 10th round with a victory by TKO for Mayweather.

McGregor was then stripped of the UFC Lightweight Championship due to inactivity and Khabib Nurmagomedov was crowned the undisputed champion after defeating Al Iaquinta.

In 2018, it was announced that McGregor would return to the octagon for the first time since at UFC 229 to challenge the undefeated Nurmagomedov for the UFC Lightweight Championship in one of the biggest contests in the history of the sport.

Nurmagomedov proved too strong, though, and submitted McGregor with a neck crank in the fourth round.

The following year McGregor announced his retirement on social media, despite claims he wanted a rematch with Nurmagomedov.

McGregor eventually made his return against Donald Cerrone in a welterweight bout on 18th January 2020 at UFC 246. He won the fight via technical knockout 40 seconds into the first round and earned another 'Performance of the Night' award, before he announced once more that he was retiring from fighting.

It was again short-lived and McGregor was booked to face former UFC Lightweight Championship challenger Dustin Poirier in a rematch of their 2014 bout at UFC 257 on 24 January 2021.

He lost the fight via technical knockout in the second round, marking the first knockout loss in his career. McGregor was later handed a six–month medical suspension after the knockout.

Third Poirier fight

McGregor faced Dustin Poirier for a third time on 10 July 2021 at UFC 264 but lost via technical knockout in round one after the ringside doctor stopped the bout. McGregor had a broken tibia, which rendered him unable to continue.

After the layoff nursing his leg injury, it was announced McGregor would be coaching The Ultimate Fighter 31 for the second time, this time against Michael Chandler.

They will face each other after the season, at an event in 2024 yet to be confirmed.