It’s been 12 years, but for Conor McGregor, that might as well be a lifetime when you look at how drastically his world has changed between 2014 and today. Sure, he’s got more money and fame now in 2026 than he did a dozen years ago. That’s obvious. But the ride from Dublin darling to where he is right now? Man, that story is wild.
From Dublin’s Hero to Megastar: The Incredible Ascent
Back on July 19, 2014, McGregor had his first chance to headline a UFC event, and he did it right there in front of his home fans in Dublin’s 3Arena. He took out Brandao with “relative ease” in the main event of UFC Fight Night 46. That win, in front of 9,500 screaming Irish fans, just absolutely lit a fire under his career. His trajectory shot straight up to superstardom after that. Later that same year, he beat Dustin Poirier in their first meeting. Then, he headlined a show for the first time in the States, hitting up “Irish-friendly” Boston. He snagged the interim featherweight title, then dropped Jose Aldo with a 13-second knockout to win the full belt and officially become a megastar. When he stepped into the boxing ring in 2017 against Floyd Mayweather, he got paid more money than he knew what to do with. It felt like nothing could stop him.
One Win in Nine Years? The Shocking Fall From Grace
But here’s where things get rough. After that Mayweather payday, MMA clearly took a backseat. Outside interests started dominating, and honestly, the man has had “literally dozens of brushes with infamy,” including legal issues and accusations of “rich men doing bad rich men things.” Can you believe he has only one MMA win in almost nine years? It’s wild. He’s stacked up multiple suspensions, faced arrests, and even had a civil judgment against him for the 2018 rape of Nikita Hand in Dublin. The injuries piled up too, with a broken leg in his trilogy fight with Poirier and a five-year layoff that included multiple return teases and a broken toe. His return earlier this month? It ended in a 69-second loss when he blew out his knee against Max Holloway. It’s a tough pill to swallow for anyone who watched his early run.
McGregor still has one fight left on his UFC deal, and he’s said he wants to rehab, come back, and fight one more time. The UFC is probably going to hold onto that last fight as long as possible, just to keep him from fighting elsewhere. But let’s be real, it’s a “distinct possibility, if not strong likelihood,” that his days in the UFC are just over. That feeling back in 2014, when 9,500 Irish fans showered 3Arena with cheers and beers? Reports now say his popularity in his home country is at an “all-time low.” The sad irony is that many of those same fans would probably prefer to throw their beers *at* him these days, not in the air for him. What a fall.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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