Who would have thought that a slender Irishman would one day register himself in the annals of MMA history? With every achievement, Conor McGregor has done just that! And though this journey has been plagued by recent setbacks, like his extended inactivity or the alleged ‘unwillingness to return to the big stage’, the Dubliner is still numero uno in the Mount Rushmore of MMA for many. McGregor is already a dual-weight champ, the part owner of BKFC, and owns several successful business ventures.

However, he realized his dreams in bits and pieces with loads of sacrifice and determination. Amid his comeback rumors next year, ‘The Notorious’ known for his strong jabs inside the octagon and colorful personality, shared a throwback video on Instagram.

The video showed a young McGregor from 2008 saying, “I am Conor McGregor. I am a professional MMA Fighter. My dream is to be a world lightweight champion in the UFC. My dream is to have more money than I know what to do with and to have a great life for my kids, my grandkids, and everyone in my family who’s come up with me. That’s my dream.”  The video then cuts to the Dubliner having all that he dreamt of and more! 

The former dual weight champ who has fulfilled his dreams and has achieved beyond his goals captioned his Instagram post saying, “Dreams come true, I know for certain! Good luck everyone.”

Before becoming the “Mystic Mac” we know today, Conor McGregor lived a relatively ordinary life. He played sports, attended Irish-language schools, and even worked as a plumber at his parents’ urging. However, the Dubliner had bigger aspirations. His parents, Tony and Margaret, were working-class folks who moved to Crumlin to buy their first home. They were initially concerned about his pursuit of martial arts, but McGregor was determined.

McGregor’s journey began at the Crumlin Boxing Club, where he initially sought to learn self-defense. From those humble beginnings, he rose to become a dual-weight champion in the UFC, a successful entrepreneur, and even a Hollywood actor. His meteoric rise has inspired many fighters, including Sean O’Malley and Ilia Topuria. Interestingly, these rising stars now find themselves competing against their former idol, McGregor, creating a dynamic and intriguing rivalry within the MMA world.

McGregor’s recent actions have strained his relationships with other fighters. His closeness to boxing sensation Ryan Garcia and his subsequent PED case created tension with ‘Suga’, while his racist remarks towards Ilia Topuria during a BKFC event further damaged his reputation. Despite these setbacks and a delayed octagon return due to a toe injury and the cancellation of UFC 303, McGregor’s ambitions remain undimmed. Many fans are eager to see if he will make a successful comeback and continue his UFC journey.

When is Conor McGregor coming back into the octagon?

Dana White recently closed the lid on the Dubliner’s return in 2024. However, the boss hinted at the star’s return in early 2025. Talking to the New York Post Sports, the UFC head honcho announced, “Conor McGregor will fight next year, early 2025, and as far as he’s had so much time off, as far as the hunger, he’s a very wealthy guy, we’ll find out when he comes back but he is one of the big superstars of the sport that has elevated the UFC throughout Europe and other parts of the world, he’s been a big star and a great partner for us.”

For now, McGregor’s former opponent Michael Chandler is fighting Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 after waiting for nearly 18 months. So, speculation about the Irishman’s grand return to the octagon is shrouded in mystery for now. Conor McGregor’s beef with Nate Diaz is something that has yet to reach a culmination with a trilogy as the duo each other at UFC 196 and then in the rematch at UFC 202. The Stockton native had won the first bout and the second saw ‘The Notorious’ as the victor. Apart from Diaz, there are prospects like Max Holloway who has been eyeing a bout against McGregor. Even Belal Muhammad and Ilia Topuria are beefing with the Dubliner so they might be a good possibility for a bout that could pit the past against the future!

Nonetheless, even if ‘The Notorious One’ never returns to the octagon again, his legacy will still remain intact. But fight fans will definitely want to witness their beloved ‘Motivated McGregor’ once again. What are your thoughts on McGregor’s rise and will we ever see him back? Tell us in the comment section below!