At 27, is McGregor already the GOAT?
I didn’t believe.
Three years ago, when UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor (it’s still kinda weird without ‘interim’ tag) was first introduced in the UFC, I didn’t think much of him.
After he knocked out Marcus Brimage in Sweden and wanted a ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus, I thought he was just another up-and-coming fighter trying to make a splash in some puddle of water.
I was wrong and way off. Way off.
That splash has turned into 20-foot ocean waves, and, his popularity may be equal — if not greater — than Ronda Rousey, and he has recently traded jabs with boxing royalty Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the media. (A couple years ago Mayweather wouldn’t of known any UFC fighters’ names and now the undefeated and retired champ is complaining about McGregor’s and Rousey’s fame.)
And, with Mayweather’s self-proclamation of being “the best ever,” can ‘Notorious’ be put in the same conversation as “the greatest of all time”?
- * * *
At the UFC 197 press conference, McGregor’s outfit could have been in the wardrobe of Mexico’s recently captured top criminal Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, and, on social media, ‘Notorious’ uploaded a photoshopped picture with him shaking the drug czar’s hand.
Some may think McGregor’s adages are merely a gimmick, but make no mistake: his movements, thoughts, and actions are carefully calculated for the ends to justify the means.
Take for instance his outfit at the press conference which served a dual purpose. It not only paid homage to the notoriety of billionaire criminal ‘El Chapo,’ but it may have also won him over a new horde and demographic of fans which plays in line with his notorious image.
Even with his Oscar worthy theatrics — which are like a fine-tuned symphony when the mic and cameras are on him playing in perfect accord — none are possible without his performance in the cage.
And, not only has McGregor delivered, his predictions have been spot on starting with Dustin Poirier, Dennis Siver, Chad Mendes, and Jose Aldo. McGregor has called every round in which he would take out his opponent, but what makes his Cinderella story even more incredible, is the fact that McGregor beat the champ Aldo handily, and Aldo hadn’t lost in over 10 years! (The only fight where Aldo looked remotely beatable was at the end of his fight with Mark Hominick.)
There is now this ‘McGregor era’ with grumblings by other fighters complaining that McGregor gets what he wants but, can you blame the UFC for not allowing the guy to call some shots when he’s helped take the sport to another level?
The simple answer to that is — no.
The UFC has allowed McGregor to do something that has never been done before — keep his featherweight belt and challenge for the lightweight belt for the possibility to become a dual weight champion, because as UFC President Dana White says, “[McGregor] has done everything he said he would do.”
Which leads to the final question: Is Conor McGregor the G.O.A.T.?
You could argue yes — he’s blown through the featherweight division (sans Frankie Edgar), catapulted the UFC brand to a much bigger audience, he has his whole country backing him, and have fans wanting to watch not only his fights, but everytime he has something to say.
Yes, McGregor has lost twice, but everyone in mixed martial arts loses, no one goes through an entire record with an unscathed record, especially those at the top.
And here’s another thing — McGregor will lose again. I think he’ll lose a few more times, but that’s to be expected when someone fights the best in the world in multiple weight divisions.
But win or lose, what matters most is if people are still tuning in to watch or listen to him, and was he able to make a difference in the sport or an inspiration to others…
Look, I thought I’ve seen it all, so I didn’t believe that McGregor would have this big of an ascension in the sport or have the enormous impact on MMA. But he has, and it’s not merely the talk or fighting aspect of McGregor’s game, but it’s his entire psyche that envelops him as an individual and belief in himself followed by hard work.
But that being said, and even with the big numbers he’s pulling in, as of right now, I don’t think ‘Notorious’ Conor McGregor is the greatest or best of all time. The sport’s too young and it’s too early in his career for those opinionated absolutes… But I do think it makes for one darn good argument.
