Author: Monojit Mandal
Conor McGregor, the legendary former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, made an unforgettable debut in Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets. While in Miami to promote his cryogenic pain treatment spray, TIDL, McGregor got into some physical banter with Miami Heat mascot Burnie at the Kaseya Centre.
Amid handshakes and laughter with other sportsmen, such as Odell Beckham Jr, McGregor came face to face with Burnie, who was wearing a pair of gigantic golden boxing gloves. McGregor, who never backs down from a challenge, brought down the hairy fireball with a thunderous left hand that left the mascot motionless on the court. The coaches then rushed to help the mascot, carrying him unconscious to the dressing room.
While McGregor’s relaxed interaction with NBA mascots has attracted attention and amusement, many UFC fans are looking forward to his return to the octagon. McGregor is now acting as a coach on “The Ultimate Fighter Season 31”, where he is facing Michael Chandler. Although no official date has been set, speculation suggests that a fight between McGregor and Chandler will take place after the season ends.
McGregor’s illustrious fighting history has positioned him as a formidable opponent. He made history by becoming the first UFC fighter to win championships in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions at the same time. He also won titles in the same weight categories in the Cage Warriors organization.
Although McGregor’s foray into professional boxing ended with a defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr, his appeal remains evident. He was the main attraction at the five best-selling UFC pay-per-view events, and his highly anticipated fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 attracted 2.4 million PPV sales, the highest in MMA history. In addition, his boxing match against Mayweather generated 4.3 million PPV sales in North America, the second highest in the history of combat sports.
McGregor’s financial success has been exceptional outside the ring. With recorded earnings of US$180 million, Forbes named him the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2021. In 2018, he came fourth on the list, with a declared income of $99 million.