- Conor McGregor was a former two-division UFC champion.
- McGregor became the first fighter in the UFC to win two titles in two different weight classes.
- McGregor holds the record for the fastest finish in UFC title fights.
Conor McGregor has brought the UFC to a whole new level of popularity because of his fantastic mix of elite skills and entertaining personality. He’s also responsible for several achievements under the Las Vegas-based promotion.
Coming Soon pic.twitter.com/YTQBz7RNPC
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 6, 2024
For instance, he became the first fighter in UFC history to become a two-division champion and the highest-paid athlete in MMA. “The Notorious” has also dominated online sports betting as a constant favourite in UFC odds.
But what are the fights that helped him become the icon that he is today? See the best fights of the Irish superstar in the list below.
Best Conor McGregor Fights
| Fight | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Conor McGregor vs. Chad Mendes | 07/12/2015 | UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor |
| Conor McGregor vs. José Aldo | 12/13/2015 | UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor |
| Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz II | 08/21/2016 | UFC 202: Diaz vs. McGregor 2 |
| Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez | 11/13/2016 | UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor |
| Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone | 01/19/2020 | UFC 246: McGregor vs. Cowboy |
Conor McGregor vs. Chad Mendes – UFC 189
After winning all five of his fights in the UFC, McGregor was given the opportunity to win his first belt in July 2015 against Chad Mendes for the UFC interim featherweight title at UFC 189. And he delivered an incredible performance.
On this day in 2015, Conor McGregor faced off in one of his toughest fights against Chad Mendes… 🙌🙌
📹 @ufc pic.twitter.com/wywgfbLxzm
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) July 11, 2019
McGregor went back and forth with Mendes until he got the late second-round TKO finish through punches to claim the interim title in the 145-pound division and set up a unification match with José Aldo to determine the best featherweight fighter in the world.
Conor McGregor vs. José Aldo – UFC 194
Following that victory over Mendes, McGregor was officially booked to face the then-dominant UFC featherweight champion José Aldo in December 2015 for the main event of the UFC 194 card inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
"OOOOOH… Unbelievable"
Step into the booth for @JoeRogan's reaction to McGregor-Aldo. #UFC229 pic.twitter.com/j3kw2vY9uW
— UFC (@ufc) October 5, 2018
McGregor wasted no time and finished “The King of Rio” in just 13 seconds with his signature left hook to become the new featherweight king and set the record for the fastest finish in UFC title fights. This win has boosted his name to superstardom.
Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz II – UFC 202
McGregor figured in one of the most entertaining and heated rivalries in UFC history with Nate Diaz. The pair fought twice in a span of six months, and it was absolute chaos. Diaz drew first blood in their first meeting with a second-round submission win over McGregor.
Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor 2 scorecard #ufc202 https://t.co/guGpJD4Txg pic.twitter.com/Mgvu5dKT55
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) August 21, 2016
But the Irishman got his revenge in their rematch in August 2016 at UFC 202 by beating Diaz via majority decision in a bloody encounter. It was one of McGregor’s best performances, where he showcased his full striking arsenal and defended Diaz’s takedown attempts multiple times.
Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez – UFC 205
In November 2016, McGregor dared to be the first fighter in UFC history to win two titles in two different weight classes when he moved up in the 155-pound division and challenged Eddie Alvarez for his championship at UFC 205.
On this day in 2016: Conor McGregor became the double champ at UFC 205. 🏆🇮🇪
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) November 12, 2020
It was a successful challenge for “The Notorious” as he made “The Underground King” look like an amateur against him by dominating the whole fight en route to winning his second UFC title via a second-round TKO finish.
Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone – UFC 246
When McGregor lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018, he went on a 15-month hiatus from the UFC. He made a massive comeback in January 2020 at UFC 246, where he faced Donald Cerrone for his welterweight debut.
Jan18.2020
2 years ago today,
Conor McGregor returned to action and finished Cowboy Cerrone in 40 seconds. pic.twitter.com/SQdk9CfrzV
— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) January 18, 2022
McGregor delighted the fans with yet another spectacular performance in a heavier weight class against a dangerous opponent. He only needed 40 seconds to finish “Cowboy” in the opening round through TKO by TKO and punches.