One of the most well-known UFC fighters nowadays is no doubt Conor McGregor. With an attitude to match, The Notorious One is a former champion in two different categories and currently the richest MMA fighter. To be in the UFC, the Irishman had to go a long way and face many obstacles. Experiencing the highs and lows of both poverty and luxury, he has lived a life that many of us can only imagine.
Undoubtedly he has completely taken over the fighting world with his unique swagger and direct personality so, by now, it is clear to us that anything can happen if you give Conor McGregor a microphone.
McGregor always generates a reaction when he talks, whether it's during a press conference or an interview after a fight. He disparages other fighters, and occasionally entire sports, and never stops bragging about his extravagant money or his lofty status inside MMA, a position no other fighter has come near to.
McGregor is a terrific salesman and one of the best talkers in sports since Muhammad Ali. He has even talked himself into numerous fights. What is more amazing still, is the fact that he has supported those statements with his skill inside the Octagon.
Here are ten of the most memorable and outrageous quotes from Conor McGregor's career.
“We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over.”
A sentence that will be remembered in Irish sporting history forever. At UFC Fight Night 46 in July 2014, McGregor defeated Diego Brandao in his native Dublin, Ireland, after an 11-month absence due to an ACL injury. This is the first promo that actually got people to pay attention to the Irishman.
“There's no talent here, this is hard work. This is an obsession. Talent does not exist, we are all equals as human beings. You could be anyone if you put in the time. You will reach the top, and that's that. I am not talented. I am obsessed.”
As already established, along with his fighting skills, McGregor has burst into the fight scene thanks to his verbal skills, penchant for hype, and theatrics. He's on the verge of making the rare transition from a professional athlete to a cultural figure by doing this. Accomplishing so much in such a short period of time has many asking what the secret to his success is? And when asked, McGregor replies with a defiant: "I'm obsessed, not talented."
“The only weight I give a fuck about is the weight of the cheques and my cheques are super-heavyweight.”
This was one catchy phrase regarding McGregor's matchup with welterweight opponent Nate Diaz (ie, heavier than McGregor). It was McGregor's debut appearance in a welterweight match but the difference in weight classes obviously didn't bother McGregor all that much. The Irishman dismissed it as a factor whilst also managing to brag about the size of the purses he was taking home.
“There’s two things I really like to do and that’s whoop ass and look good. I’m doing one of them right now and on Saturday night, I’m doing the other.”
Prior to his fight with then-competitor Max Holloway, McGregor was creating a media frenzy by giving the reporters in attendance quote after quote. This one could have also been directly quoted by Floyd Mayweather.
“I’d like to take this chance to apologize — to absolutely nobody! The double champ does what the f— he wants!”
McGregor had just defeated Alvarez by technical knockout to capture the lightweight championship and make history by holding two titles at once. McGregor continued to recite the remark and ask for his second belt during the post-fight interview.
“Me and Jesus are cool. I’m cool with all the gods. Gods recognize gods.”
Rafael dos Anjos, a devout Christian and former champion, threatened to take action when McGregor made a comment deemed offensive to Christianity, but the Irishman partially backtracked with a catchphrase that made us forget what the argument was about in the first place.
"I run this whole thing. I run New York. I run this whole ship. Without me none of this happens. I run this whole s---. Everyone in this game does what they're f------ told except for me and rightly f------ so. If I say you're on the prelims, you're on the f------ prelims, If I say main event, it's the f------ main event."
November 2016, in the UFC 205 press conference when asked about other fighters complaining about his privileged treatment, McGregor speaks about being in a position that most fighters would dream of being in.
“I am cocky in prediction. I am confident in preparation, but I am always humble in victory or defeat."
September 2014, after McGregor’s win against Dustin Poirier at UFC 178. Talking shy for a change, he still manages to whip up a meaningful thought. In terms of personality qualities, cockiness sometimes receives a bad rap, yet excessive self-confidence has advantages as well. Especially if it motivates you to push yourself to your absolute maximum or beyond when it comes to preparation as is Conor's case.
„I can make you rich. I'll change your bum life. You fight me, it's a celebration. When you sign to fight me, it's a celebration. You ring back home, you ring your wife, "Baby, we've done it. We're rich baby. Conor McGregor made us rich. Break out the red panties."“
At the Go Big press conference in September 2015, McGregor mocked competitors like Rafael dos Anjos and Donald Cerrone by making light of the reality that many MMA competitors must find additional sources of income.
“My knee popped, but fuck it, it is what it is. I just went with what was comfortable, and what was comfortable was getting the motherfucker to the ground. Looking back, I should have just pulled my knee from my leg and hit him with it.”
Following a convincing unanimous decision victory against Max Holloway, who is now the UFC Featherweight Champion, McGregor was critical of his performance and angry about the injury he sustained, but he sure left us with a memorable McGregorism.
Some of his sayings are extremely motivational, some things he says are politically incorrect, some are hilarious, some things he says are brutally honest and many of them are all of the above. Whether a fan or not, one can still learn a lot from McGregor and his rise to fame & we hope these enlightening sayings motivated you to strive for success.
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