The Last Dance For Conor McGregor?
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There is a fine line between a celebrity’s star status and their day job. For many simply being famous becomes their profession and gives their previous one a huge shot in the arm. For sports stars however, it is a little more complicated. Few, if any, manage to maintain their celebrity standing if they take their eye off the ball in their area of excellence. Conor McGregor is in real danger of falling into that trap. The UFC legend is at a crossroads. What happens next could very well determine his legacy as a fighter — and the rest of his life.
The Making Of The Legend
Born in Dublin in 1988, Conor “Notorious” McGregor shot to mega stardom first of all in the UFC’s octagon and then in the public arena over a three-year period starting in 2013. The combination of his look (the number of tattoos grew in proportion to his fame), his attitude and let us not forget his undeniable talent, were a perfect match for a sport that was desperate for someone to be its figurehead. The UFC has, in less than three decades, become a genuine challenger to boxing in terms of the United States crucial PPV figures, something that was almost unimaginable ‘just a handful of years ago. As the sport moved from novelty status into the bigtime, the likes of McGregor and Ronda Rousey had a huge impact in getting it into the living rooms, hearts and minds of previously impartial and sceptical fans and viewers.
His star reached its zenith when he became the organisation’s first ever fighter to simultaneously hold belts at two different weight divisions and then went on to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. That fight – McGregor’s first and to this date only boxing fight – was the second richest in the sport’s long and decorated history. Conor netted a reported $85 million, his victorious opponent three times that.
The Star Wanes
Stardom, much like fighting itself, is a cruel business. One poor night at the office can cost you millions as well as your reputation. Losing against Mayweather Jr did not harm his career one iota. In fact, the way he was able to go ten competitive rounds with the (albeit ring-rusty) former undefeated champion gained him respect from fans outside the UFC community. What happened afterwards however made a serious dent in his reputation. Brushing over the antics that led to his fight with his biggest rival in the UFC being postponed, it was the fight itself which inflicted the most damage.
Russian UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov, like McGregor undefeated with a large, partisan and vocal following, dominated the Irishman for four and a half rounds before submitting him. For someone who lives and dies by his showmanship, his antics and his trash talking, that defeat was hard to swallow. McGregor retired and started making the headlines for the wrong reasons. Since then, he has made a comeback, won, retired again. If he does not make a proper comeback, have a rematch against Khabib and win, his legacy will always be remembered for not being able to overcome the one person he wanted to beat more than anyone else.
There are parallels with another future hall of famer Daniel Cormier. Despite everything Cormier – another two weight UFC champion – has achieved, it will be his inability to defeat Jon Jones that will keep him awake at night. He has a chance to go some way to readdressing the balance with his third fight against the current heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 252, though bookmakers in the UK, the U.S and Canada are currently favouring Miocic to get his hand raised. There is no doubt McGregor will be watching with one eye on his own future.
Royalty In And Out Of The Ring
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The list of sports stars who have maintained their popularity after hanging up their boots or gloves is a short one. McGregor very well may not want to live his life in the media spotlight. Financially he is set for life, but judging by the way he has courted publicity in the past, backed up by the recent images of him racing a European princess, suggests that is the last thing he will do.
The one glaring exception of former sporting heroes who have fallen from grace when they could no longer cut the mustard in the sporting arena is David Beckham. McGregor would be well advised to take a leaf from the former England star’s book, but despite their love of ink, the two are poles apart. Whatever the next chapter holds in store for Dublin’s current most famous son, it is going to be one hell of a ride, and probably not one for the faint of heart.
