There can be no denying that the Conor McGregor of today is a shadow of the one who was rising through the ranks just shy of a decade ago. Between 2015 and 2017, the brash Irishman became one of the most beloved athletes on the planet, taking on all challengers and knocking them out in devastating fashion. However, heading into his upcoming return at UFC 303, he has just one victory under his belt in the last six years, and that came against the unranked Donald Cerrone.
During that time, there have been many damaging losses, but which were the most painful?
Dustin Poirier
When McGregor – the Notorious One – makes his return later this month, he will do so after a three-year hiatus. As such, it should come as no surprise to hear that the latest McGregor vs Chandler odds make him a narrow 10/11 underdog, with his American opponent being slightly favored at 5/6. Much of the reason why the Irish star needed so much time off was because of a horrifying leg break inflicted by Dustin Poirier in his second straight stoppage victory against his rival.
However, it was the first of those two losses that was perhaps the most damaging. The latest MMA odds give Chandler a 9/5 chance of knocking out McGregor at UFC 303, something that was unthinkable up until January 2021. We had seen the first star tap out before, but never knocked out cold.
That all changed at UFC 257 on Fight Island. McGregor was hoping to have a comeback that year, fighting four times in something that he would call his ‘season’. However, those dreams were crushed in the first fight as he was starched by Dustin Poirier, significantly stronger than the opponent he had met seven years prior. Back in 2014, McGregor managed to achieve a knockout victory. But in the rematch, he was outclassed and outgunned.
The fight began with McGregor displaying his trademark confidence, but it quickly became evident that Poirier – the Diamond – had devised a game plan to neutralize his opponent’s strengths. Poirier’s calf kicks systematically dismantled McGregor’s lead leg, compromising his mobility and power. By the second round, he was visibly limping and Poirier capitalized on this, landing a barrage of punches that ended the fight via TKO, shattering McGregor’s aura once and for all.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>OHHHHH MY KHABIB DROPS MCGREGOR!!!!<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC229?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#UFC229</a> <a href=”https://t.co/4rBF7QbRey”>pic.twitter.com/4rBF7QbRey</a></p>— UFC (@ufc) <a href=”https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1048796847613997056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>October 7, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Khabib Nurmagomedov
In October 2018 at UFC 229, McGregor faced Khabib Nurmagomedov in one of the most highly anticipated grudge matches in UFC history. The build-up to this match was filled with animosity, personal attacks, and a deep-seated rivalry. McGregor, known for his psychological warfare, tried to get under Khabib’s skin, but the undefeated Dagestani remained unfazed, and if anything, the attack fired him up even more.
In the octagon, the Russian star executed a masterclass in grappling and control. He took McGregor down with ease, smothering him with relentless pressure and pummeling him with a ruthless ground and pound. Despite a brief resurgence in the third round, where McGregor landed some strikes, Khabib’s dominance was never in doubt. The fight culminated in the fourth round with the Eagle securing a neck crank submission, forcing McGregor to tap out.
The aftermath of this loss was perhaps more damaging than the fight itself. A post-fight brawl erupted, drawing criticism and sanctions from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. For McGregor, it was a humbling experience that not only bruised his ego but also exposed the limitations of his ground game. And to make matters worse, a record number of people tuned in to watch it, with the event becoming the most lucrative in UFC history, bringing in a whopping 2.4 million pay-per-view buys.