Netflix has released a new documentary series McGregor Forever that explores the life and career of UFC star Conor McGregor. The series features exclusive interviews and footage that reveal new insights into McGregor’s personality, preparation, and achievements.
McGregor, who debuted in UFC in 2013, has become the most recognizable face of the sport with a record of 22 wins and 6 losses. He is widely regarded as one of the most skilled and versatile MMA fighters in history.
McGregor Forever offers a rare glimpse into the personal and professional life of the formidable fighter, showing his dedication to his family, community, and constant improvement.
McGregor, who started his career as a plumber’s apprentice in Dublin, Ireland, has risen to become one of the richest athletes in the world. He was the first UFC fighter to hold two weight division titles simultaneously from 2015 to 2017 (via ESPN).
However, McGregor faced a severe leg injury in his latest fight in 2021 against Dustin Poirier, casting doubt on his future comeback to the UFC. Here are the ten most surprising revelations from the Netflix series McGregor Forever.
Conor’s Vulnerable Moment After Losing to Khabib
McGregor Forever revealed Conor’s candid reaction to his defeat by Khabib Nurmagomedov, one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time. The scene showed a rare glimpse of Conor’s emotional side that contrasted with his confident and dominant persona.
The two fighters had a bitter rivalry before they clashed in the octagon, making the loss very personal and devastating for Conor. It was the last chance that Conor would have to beat Khabib, who retired in 2021 with an unbeaten 29-0 record. Conor vowed to come back after the UFC loss.
How Combat Sports Helped McGregor Overcome His Anxiety
McGregor confessed in McGregor Forever that he used combat sports to cope with his emotions. McGregor said that he often felt nervous and insecure as a child.
He started to examine his inner feelings at an early age and was uneasy with some of his thoughts and sensations. As McGregor trained more frequently, he became more confident with his nerves.
McGregor embraced situations that made him uncomfortable and saw them as an opportunity to improve. McGregor conquered his anxiety through training which made him fearless in the UFC.
McGregor’s Passion for Fighting Over Money
The documentary showed that McGregor was not motivated by money despite being one of the world’s richest athletes. McGregor Forever illustrated the fighter’s determination to be the best regardless of the challenges he faced.
McGregor had a strong desire to compete and was fearless of any rival. When the UFC did not schedule him for any fights after his 2020 victory over Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, McGregor tweeted at his next opponent asking if he wanted to fight for charity. McGregor’s wealth was a reflection of his excellence in his sport and not a sign of materialistic greed.
McGregor’s Broken Toe Before Fighting Khabib
McGregor Forever episode 1 showed how McGregor injured his toe before his notorious fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov. During a routine training session with another fighter, McGregor had to tap out after feeling severe pain in his left foot.
Doctors quickly checked McGregor and found that his left pinky toe was probably dislocated. They tried to relocate McGregor’s toe on the spot. After a few attempts, they successfully put his toe back in place. McGregor resumed his regular training, but the injury bothered him for weeks. His toe was still broken when he fought and lost to Khabib.
McGregor’s New Approach After Losing to Khabib
McGregor reflected on how to improve his performance after his defeat by Khabib. He took a five-month break from training to devise a strategy for his next fight against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.
McGregor became more strict with his diet and training in preparation for the Cerrone fight. He admits in McGregor Forever he lacked daily consistency with his workouts, sometimes skipping a planned run or eating something unhealthy.
McGregor also acknowledges being arrogant before the Khabib fight. He referred to his bragging and trash-talking as distractions he needed to avoid in the future.
McGregor’s Prediction and Celebration After Beating Cerrone
McGregor won against Cerrone in UFC 246 with a powerful kick to his opponent’s head. McGregor Forever showed McGregor’s backstage reaction to the win celebrating with his coaches and family.
McGregor’s fiancée Dee Devlin revealed that Conor predicted weeks earlier he would beat Cerrone with a kick to the head. Dee remembered Conor saying to her, “Everyone thinks he’s gonna knock me out with a head kick. I’m gonna knock him out with a head kick.” McGregor’s renewed training program paid off, and his victorious prediction came true.
McGregor’s Twitter Retirement and Fight with Poirier
McGregor Forever captured McGregor’s discontent with the UFC after his win over Cerrone. The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of fights the UFC could organize.
Even when it resumed on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, McGregor still had difficulty securing a fight. McGregor kept training throughout 2020 despite no confirmation of a fight from the UFC.
McGregor was surprised and offended that the UFC would ignore him after all he had done to promote the sport. So McGregor took action on Twitter. He tweeted a retirement announcement to get the UFC’s attention. Days later, he and Dustin Poirier arranged a UFC fight in Abu Dhabi.
McGregor’s Pain and Despair After Losing to Poirier
The fight between McGregor and Poirier in Abu Dhabi was the rematch of the rivals. McGregor ended up losing the fight after Poirier’s offensive strategy left McGregor’s right calf severely injured.
Behind-the-scenes footage in McGregor Forever showed McGregor in intense pain after the Poirier loss. McGregor describes the leg pain as a feeling he had never experienced before, asking medical staff if it could be nerve damage.
In the midst of McGregor’s harsh defeat, McGregor lowers his head and whispers to Dee, “That’s that. That’s it. That was just terrible.”
McGregor’s Failed Comeback Against Poirier
In typical McGregor style, the fighter resumed training for a rematch against Dustin Poirier only six months later. McGregor Forever showed how McGregor enhanced his skills and devised a better fighting plan against Poirier.
McGregor also chose to return to his extravagant persona as UFC’s most notorious villain. He realized his friendly and respectful approach to his previous fight against Poirier gave him no edge. Unfortunately, McGregor’s strategic changes were ineffective once again after he fractured his ankle during the fight. Poirier was declared the winner by TKO.
McGregor’s Recovery and Future Plans After Poirier Fight
McGregor Forever opened and closed with footage of McGregor in a hospital bed. McGregor was healing from surgery on his ankle after the Poirier fight in July 2021.
That fight was the last time McGregor entered a UFC octagon, although new footage in McGregor Forever indicates he will return to the UFC sometime in 2023.
Doctors told McGregor that it would take almost a year to recover from his injury completely. However, the ambitious fighter made it clear in McGregor Forever that he has no intention to retire soon, although he has started exploring other interests, such as acting. McGregor will make his acting debut in the Road House reboot.
About McGregor Forever
‘McGregor Forever’ is a four-part documentary series that follows the life and career of Conor McGregor, one of the most popular and controversial fighters in UFC history.
The series covers the period from 2018 to 2021, when McGregor faced some of his biggest challenges and losses in the octagon, as well as some of his personal and professional achievements outside of it.
The series is directed by Gotham Chopra and Darragh McCarthy, and produced by McGregor himself for Netflix. It features interviews with McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh, his wife Dee Devlin, his teammates, his opponents, and other experts and celebrities.
The series also includes footage from some of McGregor’s most memorable fights, such as his bouts with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Donald Cerrone, and Dustin Poirier.
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