On UFC debut anniversary, Conor McGregor reminisces early approach to MMA rise

Eight years ago today, Conor McGregor made his first appearance under the UFC’s lights.

McGregor (22-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) stepped in the octagon for the very first time on April 6, 2013 in the preliminary card of UFC on FUEL TV 9. The Irishman competed in a featherweight matchup against Marcus Brimage. McGregor won the fight in impressive fashion, stopping his opponent in a little over a minute and winning a $60,000 bonus for “Knockout of the Night.”

The win would kick off a historic run for McGregor, where he claimed both the UFC featherweight and lightweight title to become the first to ever hold two UFC titles simultaneously. He also became a global superstar and brought many eyeballs to MMA in the process.

Now, eight years later after debuting with the UFC, McGregor is facing the toughest patch of his UFC run, coming off a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier earlier this year at UFC 257 which put him at 3-3 on his last six performances. Looking back at his journey through the sport, “The Notorious” vows to go back on the ways that got him to become a UFC champion, as he’s looking close out the trilogy with Poirier this summer at UFC 264.