True Grit

He may be a relative newcomer to Mixed martial arts, but Conor McGregor's debut created such A buzz, he's been pushed into the mainstream. Ben Blake met the fighting machine

Mixed Martial Artist Conor McGregor with the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Straight Blast Gym on the Long Mile Road. Photo: El Keegan

Mixed Martial Artist Conor McGregor with the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Straight Blast Gym on the Long Mile Road. Photo: El Keegan

Mixed Martial Artist Conor McGregor with the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Straight Blast Gym on the Long Mile Road. Photo: El Keegan

Mixed Martial Artist Conor McGregor with the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Straight Blast Gym on the Long Mile Road. Photo: El Keegan

thumbnail: Mixed Martial Artist Conor McGregor with the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Straight Blast Gym on the Long Mile Road. Photo: El Keegan
thumbnail: Mixed Martial Artist Conor McGregor with the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Straight Blast Gym on the Long Mile Road. Photo: El Keegan
thumbnail: Mixed Martial Artist Conor McGregor with the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Straight Blast Gym on the Long Mile Road. Photo: El Keegan
thumbnail: Mixed Martial Artist Conor McGregor with the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Straight Blast Gym on the Long Mile Road. Photo: El Keegan
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Ben Blake

As debuts go, you couldn't dream of a better one. In Conor McGregor's case, he had predicted the outcome down to a tee. The Irish Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter has well and truly taken the sport by storm since knocking out Marcus Brimage only 67 seconds into his very first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bout in Sweden in April.

The devastating manner in which he saw off his opponent earned the 24-year-old featherweight $60,000 (€46,000) in prize money for 'Knockout of the Night', while UFC president Dana White admitted he was "blown away" when asked about the newcomer during the post-fight press conference.

Big things had been expected of the Dublin native, and there was considerable hype around him in MMA circles. For the first time, the Irish mainstream media and many outside the sport were forced to stand up and take notice. It was clear that McGregor possessed the complete package – the look, the swagger, that "win-at-all-costs" mentality and an abundance of talent to back it up.

He also had a rags-to-riches story to tell. A plumbing apprentice who jacked it in to follow his passion, he was still signing on in the social welfare office days before the fight, but now could be in line to earn some serious money.

A firm believer in visualisation, McGregor claimed he would end it early on during a number of interviews in the run-up to the big day. And that's exactly what he did.

"What did I say before the fight?" says McGregor. "I wasn't lying. Everything went to plan. I don't know what it is, but I've got a vision in my head and it's all happening exactly how I see it happening.

"He came for me, but I had envisaged the shots. There were exchanges, and I'm happy with that. I think he's a good fighter, and I'm interested to see how he does in the future.

"Earlier that night, Dana brought the fighters into a little room in the back of the arena to give us a pep talk. He told us that they were paying $60,000 for 'Knockout of the Night' and I knew right then I was going to win it. It was like a dream."

Despite only being on the preliminary card, McGregor had impressed so much that he was invited along to the post-fight conference. A man who prides himself on dressing well, he showed up in a shirt, blazer and bow tie while others were in hoodies and shorts. "It was great to hear Dana's praise," he says. "I had said what I was going to do and I did it looking good. Everyone just brings their shorts and T-shirts for afterwards, but not me. I'd ironed my suit jacket, a shirt, pants, shoes . . . even my dickie bow."

Under the guidance of the country's top MMA coach, John Kavanagh, McGregor had been putting in the hours at Straight Blast Gym and climbing the ladder in Cage Warriors where he became a two-division champion before the Holy Grail that is the UFC came calling with an offer of a five-fight contract.

In the past two months, the media attention has exploded. He has appeared on The Late Late Show with SBG team-mate Cathal Pendred, has featured in dozens of magazines and websites and admits he does not go a day without being asked to pose for photos with fans. Unlike some athletes who are eager to shy away from the limelight, McGregor sees it as part and parcel of the sport and is keen to do what he can to promote it in a country which has only caught on in recent years.

"It's great to get the support from people," he says. "All aboard, because this is only the beginning. The Irish people have never really seen a guy like me in this sport. It's all new to them, and that's why they're taking notice of what I'm doing. To be a true champion, you need to be able to do it all and deal with the media side of things. If you want to make the money, you've got to do it. I'm leading the way."

The UFC's only past event in Ireland was held in the O2 in 2009, but McGregor is hell-bent on it returning in the near future.

"MMA could be huge here," he says. "I can see myself and all the guys in SBG filling somewhere like Croke Park or the Aviva.

"There are a lot of hard-working guys in this gym, and I want to help them all. We've been pouring out blood, sweat and tears for years and not earning a penny. I said I was going to get the UFC back in Ireland, and they'll be arriving sooner than expected."

Next up for McGregor is Boston's TD Garden on August 17. No opponent has been confirmed, but that matters little to the Dubliner.

"It makes no difference who I fight. It will be the same outcome. First round and it will be over. It's not going past a minute. My US debut . . . it's going to be insane," he says.

Hugely ambitious and intent on becoming financially comfortable through his success in the UFC, it comes as little surprise that his master plan is to reach the very top.

"By the time I'm 30, I'll be the pound-for-pound champion and I'll be considered in the same light as Anderson Silva. That's six years from now," he says.

"I'm doing this to secure my family's future. I don't have kids right now, but when I do decide to I want them to come into a good life."

MCGREGOR ON TRAINING AND DIET

"I'm a strong believer that it's all about listening to your own body. In general, I train twice a day and sometimes three.

"I work hard Monday to Friday and rest on the weekends when I might go for a run or a little swim. I'm always celebrating life, and you have to have your bit of fun or else you would go crazy, but I still train all the time.

"It's a long time until my next fight on August 17, and I'm preparing one day at a time.

"Keep it playful, we like to say. It's important not to overdo anything and always be looking to learn and improve. You don't have to run yourself into the ground.

"I train and learn different styles of self defence for the love of it, but I compete for the money.

"At the moment, I'm not as lean as I usually am, but leading up to a fight I cut the carbs out and stick to good quality meats, greens and nuts.

"If I was treating myself, I'd have cake. My girlfriend Dee and I have perfected this Paleo pizza. It's pure chicken base. Since I put a picture of it up on Twitter, I receive three or four tweets a day of people sending me their own versions."

Follow Conor McGregor on Twitter: @TheNotoriousMMA