As expected inches closer, we keep an eye on Conor McGregor’s infertile rise from a forward-looking Ireland to the biggest UFC star today.
Arguably the greatest superstar in all combat sports right now, Conor McGregor is set to grace the octopus in Abu Dhabi on January 23 when he takes on Dustin Poirier in UFC 257 main event. However, it was at a British promotion to be named Cage Warriors where the Irishman first made his mark as a charismatic young fighter. It was here that the magical hype and aura surrounding the old two-division champion began to build.
UFC strikers including the likes of Michael Bisping, Gegard Mousasi, Bigfoot Silva, Dan Hardy, Joe Duffy, and Dennis Siver have previously competed under the banner of Cage Warriors. Conor McGregor made his Cage Warriors debut at Cage Warriors 39: The Uprising back in 2010 in a lightweight encounter against Joe Duffy. It was an unforgettable debate for the Irishman who lost through submission.
How Conor McGregor started the ‘champ-champ’ movement
It was in 2011 that Conor McGregor realistically announced his arrival at Cage Warriors. McGregor took the world by storm in his second stint with the promotion, picking up four TKO finishes that include three first-round scalps.
Aron Jahnsen was McGregor’s first victim when he entered the Cage Warriors ’second spell. TKO’ed Jahnsen in the first round, followed up with another first-round win against Cage Warriors 45 in February 2012.
The backfields put Conor McGregor’s back in prime spot to fight for an empty Cage Warriors featherweight title. McGregor worked briskly with Dave Hill in the title fight, picking up an attractive bidding trophy in the second round and becoming the Cage Warriors featherweight champion.
Then the big moment came. Conor McGregor climbed to light weight in a bid to become the first ‘champ’ in Cage Warriors history. His powerless style and awful strike were too good for his opponent Ivan Buchinger at Cage Warriors 51 in Dublin as The Notorious One won KO’s first win in the first round, and so becoming a two-part champion.
The sound of Conor McGregor’s in-cage antics against Buchinger on that cold December 31st night in Dublin was heard all over the world. UFC president Dana White soon came up with an offer for the Irishman to sign with the UFC and the rest, as they say, is history.
Published January 10, 2021, 17:43 IST