For the first time in five years, UFC superstar Conor McGregor has fought in front of a crowd. ‘The Notorious’ suffered a gruesome broken leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021 at UFC 264 and hasn’t competed in public since.
Although he was boxing rather than stepping into the Octagon, Friday’s bout would have felt like a significant moment for the Irishman. The venue for his return could hardly have been more fitting as McGregor laced up the gloves for the Crumlin Boxing Club’s traditional Good Friday show in south Dublin.
McGregor began his fighting journey at Phil Sutcliffe’s Sr’s gym as a youngster and the venue has understandably remained close to his heart ever since. The 37-year-old is a frequent attendee of the Good Friday event, but went one step further this year by stepping through the ropes.
Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long for footage of the fight to start doing the rounds on social media. McGregor’s opponent in the exhibition contest was local amateur Barry Nolan.
The contest was fought in protective gear and took place over three rounds at a relatively measured pace, though McGregor clearly had too much for Nolan, landing punches throughout and rarely taking a shot of any significance. He also scored standing eight counts in both the second and third rounds.
Conor McGregor’s Surprise Boxing Match
While the opposition was nowhere near professional standard, the outing provided a rare glimpse into McGregor’s current level of ability. Although the former two-division UFC champion occasionally puts out sparring videos on social media, these tend to be heavily edited.
Fans in attendance were also thrilled to see the global star in action They paid just €10, a little over $11, for the privilege of watching one of the most recognisable athletes on the planet in action, whereas tickets to McGregor’s last fight at UFC 264 started at $600, going up to more than $10,000.
Before he stepped through the ropes, McGregor posted on Instagram to mark the occasion. “GOOD FRIDAY!” he wrote. “My Lord Jesus I am in awe of you! Fight day at Crumlin Boxing Club.”
Conor McGregor’s Next Fight
McGregor is rumoured to be headlining UFC 330 on the 11th of July at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, returning to the Octagon against an opponent who is yet to be confirmed. It would mark nearly five years to the day since he last competed at the highest level, a period that has included the Poirier injury, a cancelled bout with Michael Chandler due to a broken toe, as well as various legal issues and endless speculation about whether the comeback would ever materialise.
A three-round exhibition may not mean much on the face of it, but that McGregor was willing to step into the ring is a positive sign as his proposed UFC comeback draws closer.