The Rollercoaster Ride of Conor McGregor: Scandals, Rivalries, and a Controversial Legacy

Conor McGregor, a renowned champion fighter, has experienced both triumphs and setbacks throughout his career, both inside and outside the Octagon. McGregor embarked on his remarkable journey in mixed martial arts in 2008, eventually signing with the professional league, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), in 2013. Over the course of his tenure in the UFC, McGregor has acquired numerous accolades, including the UFC Featherweight Championship, UFC Lightweight Championship, as well as recognitions such as Fight of the Night and Knockout of the Night.

In March 2016, McGregor experienced his first defeat in a match against challenger Nate Diaz, three years after his debut. Following this loss, McGregor surprised the world by announcing his retirement from fighting in April 2016, expressing his gratitude and bidding farewell with a tweet that said, "I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya's later."

After a brief retirement, McGregor made a surprising comeback, announcing his intention to face Diaz in a rematch just four months later. In August 2016, he emerged victorious in the highly anticipated showdown. McGregor's ambition knew no bounds, as he set his sights on challenging boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the following year. Their August 2017 bout was hyped as the most significant fight in combat sports history. The match lasted ten rounds, ultimately resulting in Mayweather Jr.'s triumph.

In March 2019, McGregor shocked the world once again by announcing his retirement for the second time. However, he soon changed his mind and returned to the ring to face Donald Cerrone. Following his victory against Cerrone, McGregor surprised fans by declaring his retirement for the third time in June 2020. Just two months later, after twelve years of dating, he proposed to his longtime girlfriend Dee Delvin. Together, they have three children: Conor Jr., Rian, and Croia Mairead.

McGregor garnered attention the following year when he engaged in a physical altercation with Machine Gun Kelly at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. This incident reportedly occurred because the rapper refused to take a picture with McGregor, although the mixed martial artist's representative denied these allegations in September 2021. McGregor's spokesperson clarified that the claim was entirely untrue, stating that there was no request for a photo. They also highlighted that Machine Gun Kelly had attended McGregor's previous fight, and McGregor genuinely valued his fans.

In June 2023, McGregor faced another scandal when he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Miami during Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The woman's attorney, Ariel Mitchell, claimed in demand letters that McGregor had violently assaulted her in a men's bathroom. McGregor's representative responded to the allegations by releasing a statement to TMZ denying them. It is worth noting that during this time, McGregor and his fiancée made the announcement that they were expecting their fourth child.

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Conor McGregor’s Ups and Downs Over the Years: Multiple Retirements, Machine Gun Kelly Feud, Sexual Assault Accusations and More

While Conor McGregor is a champion fighter, he has faced a series of ups and downs inside — and outside — the Octagon.

In 2008, McGregor embarked on his remarkable journey in mixed martial arts and eventually joined the professional league in 2013, becoming a prominent figure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). McGregor's time in the UFC has been marked by numerous accomplishments, such as securing the UFC Featherweight Championship, UFC Lightweight Championship, as well as earning accolades like Fight of the Night and Knockout of the Night.

However, McGregor faced his first defeat three years into his career, when he went up against challenger Nate Diaz in March 2016. Following this loss, McGregor surprised the world by announcing his retirement from the sport just a month later.

"I have made the decision to retire at a young age. I would like to express my gratitude for the support I have received. Stay tuned for what's next," he announced on Twitter in April 2016. "See you all later."

However, his retirement was short-lived. Just four months later, McGregor surprised everyone by announcing his return to the sport for a rematch against Diaz. In August 2016, he emerged victorious against his rival. McGregor's ambition continued to grow, leading him to challenge boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. to a highly anticipated match the following year. Their showdown in August 2017 was dubbed as "the most significant fight in the history of combat sports." After ten intense rounds, Mayweather Jr. was ultimately declared the winner.

In March 2019, McGregor made the decision to retire for the second time. However, he later changed his mind and returned to the ring to face Donald Cerrone. After defeating Cerrone, McGregor surprised fans by announcing his retirement for the third time in June 2020. Just two months later, he proposed to his girlfriend of 12 years, Dee Delvin. The couple, who have three children together (Conor Jr., Rian, and Croia Mairead), finally decided to take the next step in their relationship.

In 2021, McGregor once again found himself in the spotlight, but this time it was for a scuffle with Machine Gun Kelly. The incident occurred at the MTV Video Music Awards, where the rapper allegedly refused to take a photo with McGregor. However, McGregor's representative denied these claims in September 2021.

McGregor faced another controversy two years later when he was accused of raping a woman in Miami during Game 4 of the NBA Finals in June 2023. The woman's attorney, Ariel Mitchell, claimed in demand letters obtained by Us that McGregor sexually assaulted her in a men's bathroom in a violent manner. McGregor's representative countered these allegations in a statement to TMZ. It is worth noting that during this time, McGregor and his fiancée revealed that they were expecting their fourth child.

Keep scrolling to see McGregor’s ups and downs:

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2013

UFC enlisted McGregor by offering him his inaugural multi-fight agreement, thus making him the second Irish fighter to compete in the league. In April, he entered the octagon for the first time against Marcus Brimage. McGregor showcased his prowess by securing a knockout victory in the first round, a remarkable feat that earned him the prestigious "Knockout of the Night" accolade.

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2016

After enjoying three years of triumph in the UFC, the fighter faced his initial defeat against Diaz in March of that particular year. Surprisingly, McGregor declared his intention to retire from the sport the following month. Nonetheless, just four months later, he made a comeback and challenged the talented Ultimate Fighter 5 alumnus to a rematch, emerging victorious in the end.

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2017

After making a name for himself in UFC, McGregor decided to take up boxing and faced Mayweather Jr. in the ring. The boxer defeated McGregor in the 10th round via TKO.

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2018

The Ireland native faced legal consequences in April when he was charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault and one count of felony criminal mischief. McGregor's actions were captured on camera as he threw a hand dolly through a bus window, endangering fellow UFC fighters who were present at a media event for UFC 223 at Barclays Center in New York City. As a result of this incident, McGregor was stripped of his UFC lightweight championship.

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2019

"I have made the decision to formally retire from the sport commonly referred to as 'Mixed Martial Arts' today. I extend my best wishes to all my former colleagues as they continue to compete in the future," McGregor shared on Twitter in March. "I am now joining my former partners in this journey, who are already enjoying their retirement. Allow me to treat you all to delicious Pina Coladas!"

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After enjoying almost a year of retirement, the athlete made a bold decision to make a second comeback in the early part of the year. Stepping back into the octagon, he faced Cerrone and emerged victorious with a remarkable technical knockout in the very first round. Just six months later, McGregor surprised his fans once again by announcing his retirement from the sport. Adding another exciting twist to his eventful year, McGregor proposed to Devlin in August.

2020

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2021

During the VMAs, McGregor found himself in a heated exchange with Kelly. The pair were spotted engaged in an argument at the Barclays Center prior to the awards ceremony, with people intervening to prevent any physical confrontation. It was reported that McGregor approached the musician, requesting a photo, but Kelly apparently turned down the request. McGregor, on the other hand, has denied these allegations.

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2023

During Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Miami, McGregor faced accusations of raping a woman. In June, the woman's lawyer claimed that McGregor sexually assaulted her in a men's bathroom, using violent means. According to the lawyer, NBA security guards and Miami Heat personnel played a role in separating the woman from her friend and forcing her into the restroom, where McGregor and his security guard were allegedly waiting. McGregor's representative denied the allegations, stating to TMZ that they were false and asserting that McGregor would not be intimidated.