Conor McGregor
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The Read
Conor McGregor is the most consequential star in UFC history — a two-division champion who held the featherweight and lightweight belts at once, built on the best left hand the sport has produced. At his peak he was a precision counter-puncher with rare timing and power: a 13-second knockout of José Aldo, finishes of Eddie Alvarez and a prime Dustin Poirier. Nineteen of his 22 wins are knockouts.
The résumé now carries heavy caveats. He hasn't won since the 40-second Cerrone blitz in January 2020, has lost three of his last four — twice to Poirier and by submission to Khabib Nurmagomedov — and returns at 37 from the broken leg that ended UFC 264, nearly five years on the shelf. Against a fighter as durable and busy as Holloway, the questions are cardio, ring rust and whether the old timing survives the layoff.
Next Fight
Record
Tap any fight for the breakdown.
Loss
vs Dustin PoirierTKO (leg injury) · R1
UFC 264
10 Jul 2021
10 Jul 2021
The trilogy decider ended in horror: McGregor's lower left leg fractured as he backpedalled in the closing seconds of round one, and the fight was waved off between rounds. He had already been opened up and was trailing on output when the injury ended his night.
Key moments
- Suffered a fractured lower left leg in the final seconds of round one.
- Doctor stoppage between rounds gave Poirier the TKO.
- McGregor left the arena on a stretcher and had surgery.
- His last appearance before a near-five-year layoff.
Loss
vs Dustin PoirierTKO (punches) · R2
UFC 257
23 Jan 2021
23 Jan 2021
Poirier systematically chopped at McGregor's lead leg with calf kicks, eroded his movement, then dropped him with a combination and finished with ground strikes at 2:32 of round two — the first knockout loss of McGregor's career.
Key moments
- First KO/TKO loss of McGregor’s career.
- Calf kicks visibly compromised his mobility before the finish.
- Avenged Poirier’s 2014 featherweight loss to McGregor.
- Held on Fight Island, Abu Dhabi.
Win
vs Donald CerroneTKO (strikes) · R1
UFC 246
18 Jan 2020
18 Jan 2020
A 40-second blitz at welterweight. McGregor opened with shoulder strikes in the clinch that bloodied Cerrone, then landed a head kick and follow-up shots for the stoppage — his first outing since the 2018 Khabib loss.
Key moments
- Finished in 40 seconds — one of the fastest wins of his career.
- Unusual shoulder strikes in the opening clinch set up the finish.
- His first fight back after the UFC 229 loss to Khabib.
Loss
vs Khabib NurmagomedovSubmission (neck crank) · R4
UFC 229
6 Oct 2018
6 Oct 2018
In the biggest-selling pay-per-view in UFC history at the time, Khabib controlled the lightweight title fight on the mat, rocked McGregor with a right hand and forced a tap to a neck crank at 3:03 of round four. A multi-person brawl erupted immediately after.
Key moments
- Lightweight title fight — McGregor tapped to a neck crank in round four.
- Reported ~2.4 million PPV buys, a UFC record at the time.
- A post-fight brawl drew commission fines and suspensions.
Win
vs Nate DiazDecision (majority) · R5
UFC 202
20 Aug 2016
20 Aug 2016
The welterweight rematch, five months after Diaz had submitted him. McGregor leaned on heavy leg kicks and counter lefts, scored early knockdowns, survived a late Diaz surge and edged a majority decision in a 2016 Fight of the Year.
Key moments
- Majority decision (48–47, 48–47, 47–47) avenging the UFC 196 loss.
- McGregor scored multiple early knockdowns.
- Diaz rallied late and rocked McGregor in round two.
- Widely named the 2016 Fight of the Year.