Conor McGregor has teased a return to the octagon, which has fans harkening back to his incredible prime as a UFC champion.
The former UFC Champion has recently re-entered the drug testing pool for athletes, with Conor McGregor’s plan seemingly to compete on the UFC White House event on July 4, 2026.
His return seems imminent, with fans excited to see McGregor back in action for the first time since his devastating leg break against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
Here are five of McGregor’s most exciting fights that every MMA fan needs to watch before McGregor’s rumored return.
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5. Conor McGregor finished his UFC debut in 67 seconds in 2013
It didn’t take long for McGregor to introduce himself to the UFC, as he ended his debut in just over a minute with a devastating knockout victory.
The Irishman had already made a name for himself on the Irish MMA circuit, winning titles at two weight classes with Cage Warriors before signing with the American promotion.
He took on the five feet four inches tall Marcus Brimage in 2013 and made quick work of the Ultimate Fighter contestant.
He bloodied Brimage with a vicious uppercut before slamming his head into the cage with his fists, forcing the referee to end the fight after just 67 seconds.
4. Nate Diaz shocked Conor McGregor with a short-notice victory over “Notorious”
While not a victory for McGregor, MMA fans need to see his first-ever defeat at the hands of Nate Diaz to see a different side of “Notorious”.
McGregor lost this fight via rear-naked choke, but the performance showed a side of the Irishman that was willing to take risks and be vulnerable in the octagon.
The loss was a huge shock, as Diaz had only taken the fight on short notice after jumping a weight class.
He managed to choke out McGregor in the second to win the non-title fight, inflicting the first defeat of the Irishman’s career in impressive fashion.
3. The rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz was even more impressive
Just a few months after the first fight, McGregor avenged his loss to Diaz in impressive fashion at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
McGregor defended better in this bout, not letting Diaz get in behind him like the first fight. Diaz turned it into a battle of clinches, although he was still bloodied and battered by the fists of McGregor throughout all five rounds.
It was a close and exciting fight, which was up to the judges to decide the winner. McGregor won via majority decision in one of his most spectacular fights.
This fight not only cemented McGregor as a top fighter but also earned the UFC its biggest buyrate ever, drawing 2.4 million buys for the long-awaited rematch.
2. Conor McGregor became a double champion by beating Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205
McGregor made history at UFC 205, doing something that had never been done in the history of the UFC.
In an impressively patient finish, McGregor waited for Eddie Alvarez to make his move in the second round.
The reigning UFC Featherweight champion hit a brutal three-punch combination to knock Alvarez clean out to add the Lightweight belt to his collection.
In doing so, “Notorious” became the first man to hold two titles at different weights, a feat many thought impossible.
The double champion followed it up with a legendary press conference, where McGregor humbly apologized to “absolutely nobody” in one of the greatest post-fight interviews in UFC history.
1. Jose Aldo’s decade-long undefeated streak ended after just 13 seconds in the octagon with Conor McGregor
One of the greatest finishes in UFC history took place when McGregor battled a UFC Champion who had spent the last decade undefeated and looked like he’d never be beaten.
However, that didn’t matter to McGregor. The arrogant Irishman sauntered into the octagon ready to take the fight to Jose Aldo as he challenged him for the UFC Featherweight title.
McGregor had won all of his fights since his UFC debut and made sure in quick fashion that this one would be no different.
As soon as the bell rang, he engaged in fisticuffs with the Brazilian, dropping him with an unassuming right hand, knocking Aldo clean out and taking home the title for himself.