Before the fortune and fame, the tattoos and tailored suits, Conor McGregor always had an innate belief that he would rise to the top of his profession. The catalyst for his MMA career came through a family move from Crumlin in south-west Dublin to the more suburban Lucan, a little less than 10 miles away but a struggle for the teenage McGregor. Having won 12 of his first 14 professional contests, McGregor’s career has largely been on an upward trajectory since he announced himself to the organisation by stopping Marcus Brimage in Stockholm in April 2013. With the featherweight belt still in his possession, McGregor relieved Eddie Alvarez of his lightweight crown in November 2016 to make UFC history. McGregor’s UFC return was in considerable doubt after his actions were described as “the most disgusting thing that has happened in the history of the company” by president Dana White.

Source: Irish Examiner October 03, 2018 05:03 UTC