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Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor1859 posts

Conor McGregor is an Irish mixed martial artist, born in 1988. He has primarily competed in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

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14 Jul, 1988

Conor McGregor born in Dublin, Ireland

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Conor McGregor childhood picConor McGregor is born in Crumlin, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, to Tony McGregor and Margaret. Tony, the child of an Irish father and English mother, was born in Liverpool, England. But his family splits up when he was seven, and he is sent to live with relatives in Dublin. He meets Margaret when they are 15, while walking to school. A year later, they both land jobs in a local factory, and a romance sparked. They are married in 1980, when both were 21. Conor’s sister Erin is born in 1981. Conor attends Irish-language primary and secondary school in Tallaght, South Dublin. He plays football for Lourdes Celtic Football Club and supports Manchester United. Sometimes he pops into the boxing gym next to the football club before and after football practice, but that is the extent of his interest.

I was really focused on football.

2003

Moves to Lucan, starts fighting

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The family moves from Crumlin and settles in Lucan, a suburban town on the edge of Dublin.

I certainly did not handle it well. I eventually did. But at the time, I had a lot of resentment towards my family. I actually was really upset for a long time…In the long run, it ended up working out better for my career, because I ended up being isolated. I ended up alone with my thoughts a lot more. I feel being alone with your thoughts is a good thing. It allows you to figure things out for yourself. And that’s what happened for me in Lucan.

He starts boxing, kickboxing, and jiu jitsu and his love of football fades.

I realized I was enjoying combat sports a lot more than I was enjoying football. Instead of going to the football club, I would go next door to the boxing club.

2005

Works as Plumber

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After leaving school at the age of 17, McGregor spends 18 months working as an apprentice plumber in Kilternan, starting at 5am.

It was a rough time. I did not like the life and plumbing did not interest me so one day I said ‘f*** it’ and I quit.

2006

Inspired by The Secret

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Conor’s sister, Erin, introduces him to The Secret, a book written by Rhonda Byrne, that tells the reader that the power of positive thinking can change their life and bring about anything they desire. Initially, he thinks the book is ridiculous, but a year later, after a bad day he gets a DVD of the book and, with his girlfriend, Dee, tries to visualise success.

Even when I first watched it, I was like, this is bullshit. But then something clicked for me…We would be driving to the shop and visualizing the exact car park space. And then we’d be able to get it every time.

Discovers MMA

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Having become a skilled boxer, McGregor’s interest in MMA is ignited when he begins sparring with Egan, his friend.

I met Tom who was just grappling at the time. Around the same time we discovered MMA, so I’d head up to his gym in Kildare and we’d teach each other what we knew, then scrap at the end of it.

Mar 2007

Turns professional

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Following the fight, McGregor turns professional and is signed by the Irish Cage of Truth promotion.

2008

Joins Straight Blast Gym team

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McGregor joins Dublin’s Straight Blast Gym team, where he is coached by Sergey Pikulskiy.

Conor’s been wrestling since day one when I came to SBG. From the start he picked things up right away. He’s probably the only person who never missed a wrestling class.

9 Mar, 2008

McGregor defeats Morris

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McGregor makes his professional MMA debut at Cage of Truth 2, defeating Gary Morris with a second-round TKO.

3 May, 2008

McGregor defeats Taylor

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McGregor defeats Taylor with a TKO at Cage Rage – Contenders: Ireland vs. Belgium, which is held in Ireland’s National Stadium.

Dec 2008

Interview

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McGregor is interviewed in the bedroom of a house in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Without a doubt you will see me in the UFC in the future…I started MMA a few years ago and I really, really love it. It’s like an addition for me. I train twice a day. I don’t want to do anything else…If you’re not dedicated your not going to go anywhere…My dream is to be world lightweight champion in the UFC, to have more money than I know what to do with, and have a great life for my kids and my grandkids and everyone who has come up with me…

2010

Plays football for Yellowstone

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Conor McGregor Football picMcGregor plays football in Brickfield Park, Drimnagh, for Yellowstone, now known as Stanaway Celtic, for two years. Manager:

Most weeks we’d have had about five people, a dog and a man with an umbrella at our matches. The first year he was generally down with us all year. But in the second, you’d be lucky to get him in once a week, because he got more into the MMA and got more committed.

26 Feb, 2013

MMA Hour interview

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Helwani interviews McGregor for the first time on The MMA hour. He talks about his mental attitude:

I am an Irish legend. I’m a living legend. I see myself as the champ already…I saw myself as the champ from day one. Before I even started training I always saw myself as the champ. That’s how I see myself. I see myself already there. I visualised this conversation. I visualised this conversation. I’ve visualised the walk out. I have shots picked out that I’m gonna throw in five weeks. You see it in your head,  you’re gonna see it when you arrive.

The MMA Hour – Episode 170 – Conor McGregor Debut

2013

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6 Apr, 2013

McGregor beats Brimage in UFC professional debut

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In his professional UFC debut, in Stockholm, Sweden, McGregor beats Brimage with a knockout from a series of uppercuts in 67 seconds. McGregor fought despite a tooth infection which had developed on fight week. He couldn’t open or close his mouth past a certain point, and had difficulty sleeping.

It was just another thing. Nothing could’ve stopped me in there. I wasn’t going to be broken. It was just another thing. Adversity causes some men to break and other men to break records. I chose to be the second one. That’s the way I looked at it. I looked at it as another challenge and f-ck the pain. It’s only a tooth at the end of the day. I got through it.