Conor McGregor’s mixed martial arts career has been nothing short of spectacular, marked by his historic achievement as the UFC’s first-ever simultaneous two-division champion. His journey, however, has been a rollercoaster of triumphs and setbacks. Despite reaching incredible heights, McGregor has also experienced significant defeats within the UFC octagon, totaling four losses that have each left their mark on his storied career.
Some of McGregor’s losses were more impactful than others. As he prepares for his highly anticipated return to the UFC at UFC 303, he faces Michael Chandler with the hope of avoiding a repeat of his past misfortunes. His first UFC loss came at the hands of Nate Diaz during UFC 196, which, at the time, seemed like a major upset. McGregor, who had been set to fight Rafael dos Anjos, was forced to take on Diaz on short notice. The fight ended with McGregor submitting to a rear-naked choke after a surprising turn of events. Initially seen as a blunder, this loss ultimately had little negative impact on McGregor’s career. Instead, it led to a lucrative rematch that McGregor won and paved the way for him to claim the lightweight title from Eddie Alvarez.
The loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229, however, was a different story. McGregor entered the fight with a reputation as the unofficial lightweight champion, having never been defeated for the title. The fight was dominated by Nurmagomedov, who not only outwrestled McGregor but also knocked him down for the first time in his career. The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow, but as Nurmagomedov continued to cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats, the loss seemed less devastating in retrospect, especially considering McGregor had suffered a foot injury prior to the fight.
Another significant defeat came at UFC 257, where McGregor faced Dustin Poirier in a rematch. McGregor had previously defeated Poirier and was expected to do so again as a step towards a potential rematch with Nurmagomedov or a boxing match with Manny Pacquiao. However, Poirier revealed weaknesses in McGregor’s style, utilizing calf kicks and capitalizing on McGregor’s tendency to lead with his chin. The result was a second-round TKO, McGregor’s first loss by strikes in MMA, leading many to question his place among the lightweight elite.
The most recent and perhaps most devastating loss for McGregor was against Poirier in their trilogy fight at UFC 264. Poirier entered the fight without hesitation, having gained confidence from their previous encounter. McGregor attempted a guillotine choke early on, but Poirier escaped and dominated the rest of the round with ground-and-pound. The fight ended abruptly when McGregor broke his leg, resulting in a TKO loss. This injury not only cast doubt on McGregor’s future in the sport but also led to a significant drop in his rankings and left him sidelined for an extended period.
As Conor McGregor looks to the future and his potential to reclaim his former glory, fans and analysts alike ponder whether he can turn his career around. With his return to the octagon on the horizon, the question remains: Can Conor McGregor make a successful comeback?
