5 instances when UFC fans were ready to give up on Conor McGregor

#4 Conor McGregor's upset loss against Nate Diaz at UFC 196

Nate Diaz caused an upset at UFC 196.

Conor McGregor faced Nate Diaz at welterweight after Rafael Dos Anjos pulled out due to injury. Coming in at short notice, Diaz was a heavy underdog, and McGregor was, as usual, the favorite. Despite getting absolutely thrashed by the 'Notorious' in the first round, Diaz bounced back in the second.

The Stockton native, known for his endurance, pressed on and tagged Conor McGregor, hurting him with his 1-2 combinations. As a result, McGregor shot for the legs of the Gracie jiu-jitsu maestro but paid the ultimate price for it.

📆 OTD in 2016...Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz went to war at #UFC196 👊pic.twitter.com/SRm2yOHDTg

— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) March 5, 2019

Submitting 'The Notorious' in round two, Nate Diaz caused one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. It also made UFC fans almost give up on McGregor, who up until now was considered invincible.

Conor McGregor won the rematch five months later at UFC 202, though. He displayed an improved gas tank and calculative striking that helped him grind for 25 minutes while keeping Diaz at bay.

Proving how unwise it is for UFC fans to give up on him, the Irishman eked out a hard-fought decision win. Three months later, he defeated Eddie Alvarez to become the first reigning multi-division champion in UFC history.

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#3 Conor McGregor's boxing bout against Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather (left) vs Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor took a hiatus from MMA in 2017 to take on one of the greatest boxers ever, Floyd Mayweather. Widely considered one of the best boxers in the UFC, McGregor set out to test his skills at the highest level. Knowing that Mayweather was on an entirely different level than McGregor, UFC fans were ready to give up on 'The Notorious' once again.

However, Conor McGregor would go toe to toe with the boxing great for ten rounds, proving his skill and heart. There were moments when McGregor stunned Floyd Mayweather with his crafty striking, but not being well-versed with boxing rules proved to be an inconvenience for him. McGregor ended up losing the fight via TKO at the end of ten rounds, with the judges scoring the fight 87-83, 89-82 and 89-81 in Mayweather's favor.

While he lost the bout, Conor McGregor proved he had what it took to face an undefeated boxing legend and keep him on his toes. The UFC superstar also bagged an estimated paycheque of $100 million for the fight, earning the biggest salary of his life.