It seems Conor McGregor is always up to something. He’s like the kid in the classroom who cannot sit still and the bully on the playground who wants your lunch money. All of this is a small, compact frame. McGregor isn’t just good, he’s darn good at using his skills in the ring and in front of a camera to maximize his full potential.
That’s what makes him the best fighter in UFC.
While Brock Lesnar has universal appeal for his amateur background and his success in WWE before he set foot in the octagon, McGregor has used MMA to make himself the baddest man on the planet. And he figures to continue, he’ll go down as the king of selling.
He says what he wants, does what he wants and acts the way he wants. And in the process, has made Dana White plenty of money over the years. Now, with the loss to Diaz firmly in everyone’s mind and already talk of a third match for the trinity, McGregor is positioning himself to become one of UFC’s greatest stars of all time. He is already the best the company has to offer right now. Here are five reasons why.
International Appeal
One of the great things about UFC or MMA, in general, is it helps to bring international stars to the mainstream. McGregor is a hit with all cultures, especially with his home country of Ireland. While Michael Bisping has been a hit from the UK, Junior Dos Santo from Brazil and Mirko Cro Cop has been huge from Croatia, UFC could not market itself like it does without its international ties.
McGregor is a hero for his homeland, which has made marketing him as a champion that much better.
Controversy Creates Cash
Don’t think what McGregor says is always off the cuff. He is calculated in his approach. Although he appears to fly off the handle at times, that is exactly how he wants to be portrayed. The media never knows what will happen with him in and out of the ring, and the recent bootle-flinging episode at the UFC 202 press conference underlines that fact.
He is “money” if there is such a figure in this promotion. The more he says, the more he looks to be the best there is. The controversy cash idea goes back decades in different sports and entertainment. Muhammed Ali was famous for it as has other MMA stars, and incidentally, Ali is said to be his idol. Go figure!
His skills in the ring
He is quick and relentless. And until Nate Diaz, there really hasn’t been an opponent who can figure him out. He is a 5’9” 170-pound dynamo. Add to the fact it isn’t just fighting that makes him such a solid competitor. McGregor is a specialist in Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Capoeira, Boxing, and Karate.
I have trouble just saying some of those mediums let alone being able to compete in them. This also makes it harder for opponents to train for him. Yes, others may have their own type of training and experience, but put it all together and he is special.
He’s precise in his striking, has power in his hands, and most of all has a chin that can withstand some heavy punishment. Although his ground game isn’t that up to the mark, he’s improved leaps and bounds.
He’s a man who walks the talk and delivers the goods once the cage door is shut. He masterfully outpointed Nate Diaz in their much-anticipated rematch which speaks volumes of the man and his ability. Even more noteworthy is that he’s ready to learn and that was there for everyone to see.
The constant showman
The accent, the tattoos, the style. There are few like him. He swears at a drop of the hat and he does not care who he offends. And when he isn’t thinking about his upcoming matches, McGregor has found time to tick off John Cena and his fellow WWE performers.
He’s the best because it is as important what happens out of the ring as it is in the ring. He also knows exactly what to say to get under his opponent’s skin at the weight-in or pre-fight news conference. Fearless comes to mind.
He’s always angling for what’s next
Because being the best fighter isn’t just about landing blows and winning matches, McGregor’s fans always wonder if he is going to move on to boxing or WWE as another way to prove he is in fact the best. There were rumors long before the recent outburst about WWE that McGregor was going to appear in a wrestling match.
Now more than ever, the move to the squared-circle is ripe. Given that Brock Lesnar just competed in UFC 200 and has been jumping back and forth between promotions, could McGregor, who is still quite young at 28, be making a case to use both businesses to make millions? I don’t want that to happen, but it sure looks that way.
