Conor McGregor's MMA Journey: At What Age Did 'The Notorious' Begin Training?
Conor McGregor's MMA Journey: At What Age Did 'Th...
By Jason Bolton August 26, 2024 01:11
Irish mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor has never been shy of the spotlight on his rise to becoming one of combat sports' most recognizable faces. The story of what took him from the working-class Dublin neighborhood to the top of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) smacks on doggedness, talent, and a predictably unshakable self-confidence. The piece explores McGregor's early years, introduction to combat sports, and journey up the professional MMA ladder.
Early Life and Background
Conor Anthony McGregor was born in Dublin, Ireland, on July 14th, 1988. The youngest of three children, McGregor was raised in Dublin's working-class area, Crumlin. His father is Tony McGregor, a taxi driver, and his mother, Margaret, works in the laundry. This modest upbringing would greatly influence the drive and ambition he displayed later.
As a child, McGregor loved sports games like football. From a young age, he played for Lourdes Celtic Football Club, and his sporting abilities were apparent early.
Martial Arts Training
McGregor took up martial arts training at just 12, initially starting with boxing at Crumlin Boxing Club. For the most part, his decision was largely based on wanting to be able to defend himself against bullies and give him extra confidence. McGregor's natural talent for combat sports was soon visible under head coach Phillip Sutcliffe.
McGregor got into small-time crime and was wrestling by the time he first walked with a martial arts gym at 12, but he could well have been shadowboxing much quicker than that. He lists Naseem Hamed, Muhammad Ali, and Bruce Lee as his inspirations growing up, which alludes to his being caught in the sin bin for fighting at a young age.
McGregor built upon his martial arts skills as he entered his twenties. That formed the basis of his future in MMA as he curled up kickboxing and various other disciplines. These skills would be instrumental in shaping the more-rounded fighting style he would go on to make a trademark of his appearances as a match-up fighter.
Move to MMA and Early Career
In Dublin, Ireland, on February 17, 2007, at eighteen, he had his first amateur MMA fight for an Irish promotion called Ring of Truth against Kieran Campbell. This was an important victory for McGregor as he scored a technical knockout (TKO) win in the first round of this fight.
The event was a success, and soon after, McGregor took his first steps to sign with an Irish Cage of Truth professional. But the fact that McGregor made such a quick jump from amateur to pro is a testament not only to his natural ability but also to just how far he had come.
McGregor began boxing at Crumlin Boxing Club, but under the training of John Kavanagh at SBG Ireland, he first entered a cage in an amateur fight against Ciaran Campbell on junior's jump punches, which encouraged him to purchase another time. Kavanagh was to play a significant role in McGregor's rise as his head coach and mentor.
Almost a year after his first amateur fight, McGregor made his professional MMA debut on March 9, 2008. He earned his latest victory as a lightweight, stopping Gary Morris in the second round with a TKO. The win forecasted the turbocharged ascent of Barboza through MMA's professional ranks.
Initial Struggles and Their Solution
While McGregor hit the ground running from the gate, his journey to 145 pounds was marked with adversity. Rising Scottish MMA star Martin won his second professional fight against Mo Taylor but fell to his first defeat in the form of submission specialist Artemij Sitenkov. McGregor was forced to tap out after just 1 minute and four seconds, losing by kneebar submission but highlighting one of the clear areas where he needed work on his ground game.
McGregor even thought about packing it in for good following the upset. And that's precisely where his mother saved the day. She reached out to his coach, John Kavanagh, and gave him the restored desire to compete in mixed martial arts. It was a moment that almost had Conor McGregor in doubt, but for the return of an inner voice that whispered its recommitment to his sport.
Rise to Prominence
McGregor then went on an eight-fight win streak from 2011 to early 2012. Again, after his career picked up slightly, he became a double champion, holding the CWFC Featherweight and lightweight titles simultaneously. It was a landmark achievement in European professional mixed martial arts history, as he became the first ever to hold two division titles outright, more predicting his future success inside the UFC.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced in February 2013 that they had signed McGregor to a multi-fight contract. It was the start of McGregor's global superstardom.
UFC Debut and Rapid Ascent
McGregor made his UFC debut against Marcus Brimage at the event on April 6, 2013. McGregor secured victory with a first-round knockout, which would be a warning of things in his UFC career. In addition to an announcement that he had come to the big leagues, this win also garnered Swick his first "Knockout of the Night" award.
McGregor had officially arrived in the UFC, and from here on out, his ascension seemed to move as quickly as a meteor across the sky. The precision striker, with heavy hands and unrivaled trash-talking skills, made him an immediate fan favorite inside the UFC. With more sensational victories following in but the round and type of wins often called correctly by him, he became such a mythical superhero.
Championship Glory
He won his first UFC title a month later, stopping Chad Mendes in the second round at Las Vegas. The event was a spectacle, with SinΓ©ad O'Connor (a Dublin native herself) singing McGregor to the cage for his entrance as "Foggy Dew" played. Ultimately, McGregor finished off fellow legend Chad Mendes in two rounds via TKO to become UFC interim champion at 145 pounds.
That same year, in December, McGregor became a two-division champion after he flattened longstanding pound-for-pound king Jose Aldo with the infamous 13-second knockout. The win not only reaffirmed McGregor's place at the top of mixed martial arts but also established a new UFC record for the quickest finish in a title fight.
That was not where McGregor's ambitions ended. He is a two-division champion, having held titles in the featherweight and lightweight divisions. He became the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles simultaneously at two different weight classes, forever solidifying his spot on top of MMA lore.
Legacy and Impact
From a 12-year-old boy who started boxing in Crumlin to becoming the best fighter on earth, all owe it up to Conor McGregor for his exceptional talent, work ethic, and self-belief. His influence on the MMA world goes way beyond his ring accomplishments. While McGregor has since established himself as the biggest pay-per-view draw in MMA history, headlining six of the seven largest UFC pay-per-views by buy rates.
Moreover, McGregor is credited with raising the profile of mixed martial arts and UFC worldwide. Yet his charming personality and fighting skills have appealed to a new generation of fans, helping raise MMA overall in the public eye.
McGregor started boxing at 12, leading to his participation as an amateur before transitioning him into areas where he could build a comfortable existence through martial arts training. His fairytale rise from the streets of Dublin to Sin City, triumph and tragedy in MMA
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