$15 Things You Didn\'t Know About UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor$

15 Things You Didn't Know About UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor

By Jason Fletcher

15 Things You Didn't Know About UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor UFC — After knocking out Jose Aldo in only 13 seconds on Saturday night, Conor McGregor became the undisputed UFC Featherweight Champion of the world. It's been a bit of a meteoric rise for the Irishman as he won the belt in under three years with the UFC. While he rubs a lot of people the wrong way with his brash and cocky attitude, McGregor's the exact type of fighter UFC president Dana White needs and loves.

15. Grew Up As A Soccer Player

Conor McGregor UFC

15. Grew Up As A Soccer Player

Conor McGregor UFC — Unlike America where children grow up playing any number of different sports, kids in Europe are brought up on soccer. McGregor was no different as he played for the Lourdes Celtic Football Club and was a huge fan of Manchester United growing up.

14. Began Plumber's Apprenticeship At 18

Conor McGregor UFC

14. Began Plumber's Apprenticeship At 18

Conor McGregor UFC — After being raised in the South Dublin suburb of Crumlin, McGregor moved with his family to Lucan in West Dublin. Once there, he began a plumbing apprenticeship at 18.

13. UFC Fighter Tom Egan Got Him Into MMA

Conor McGregor UFC

13. UFC Fighter Tom Egan Got Him Into MMA

Conor McGregor UFC — While in Lucan, McGregor hooked up with future UFC fighter Tom Egan and the two began sparring before Egan showed him how to grapple and developed McGregor's love for MMA. Prior to McGregor, Egan was Ireland's most notable MMA fighter.

12. Won Fight With Torn ACL

Conor McGregor UFC

12. Won Fight With Torn ACL

Conor McGregor UFC — At UFC Fight Night 26 on August 17, 2013, McGregor was originally set to fight Andy Ogle, but Ogle pulled out with an injury and was replaced by Max Holloway. Not only did McGregor beat Holloway by unanimous decision, but tests revealed after the fight that McGregor had torn his ACL. The fight showed exactly how tough "The Notorious" Conor McGregor is.

11. Last Defeat Came November 27, 2010

Conor McGregor UFC

11. Last Defeat Came November 27, 2010

Conor McGregor UFC — With the victory over Aldo, McGregor's professional record now stands at 19-2. His last loss came at Cage Warriors 39: The Uprising against Joseph Duffy via triangle choke.

10. Kept An Old Hat From His Grandfather In His Gear Bag

Conor McGregor UFC

10. Kept An Old Hat From His Grandfather In His Gear Bag

Conor McGregor UFC — McGregor emphatically says that he's not superstitious, but he used to carry his grandfather's hat in is gear bag. Unfortunately, the hat was stolen out of his car at one point and is no longer in his possession.

9. Wakes Up At 4 A.M. To Kick A Wall

Conor McGregor UFC

9. Wakes Up At 4 A.M. To Kick A Wall

Conor McGregor UFC — McGregor says he has nothing else in his life aside from MMA. He doesn't think about anything else and how to get better is constantly on his mind. So much so, that he wakes up in the middle of the night to practice kicks and jabs on a wall in his house.

8. Started MMA To Deal With Bullies

Conor McGregor UFC

8. Started MMA To Deal With Bullies

Conor McGregor UFC — While he refuses to call it bullying, instead referring to it as things that just happen, McGregor began practicing MMA as a way to deal with some kids back in the day. He said he just wanted to be left alone, and after a while, he was.

7. Father Would Give Him Daily Butt-Whoopings

Conor McGregor UFC

7. Father Would Give Him Daily Butt-Whoopings

Conor McGregor UFC — When McGregor first got into MMA in 2006, his father was not happy with his decision to walk away from the plumbing apprenticeship. In order to convince his son to take the more steady job, his father would give him whoopings daily. The two are on good terms now as McGregor's wealth has allowed his father to retire.

6. Voted Most Stylish Man In Ireland

Conor McGregor UFC

6. Voted Most Stylish Man In Ireland

Conor McGregor UFC — Not only is McGregor one of the most dominant fighters in the UFC, but he also takes his appearance seriously. He loves to wear three-piece suits any chance he gets which earned him the title of Most Stylish Man in Ireland for 2014.

5. Could Run For Office In Ireland

Conor McGregor UFC

5. Could Run For Office In Ireland

Conor McGregor UFC — According The Irish Sun, McGregor is so popular in Ireland that he could be voted into office if he ever chose to enter politics. While that's nice to know, I'm not sure that would be the best thing for the country.

4. Hates To Diet

Conor McGregor UFC

4. Hates To Diet

Conor McGregor UFC — Of everything that goes into being a MMA fighter, dieting is what McGregor hates the most. “I look forward to the day when I’m old and able to eat what I want. I’ll be a little happy fat guy,” McGregor said.

3. Sheds 27 Pounds In Eight Days

Conor McGregor UFC

3. Sheds 27 Pounds In Eight Days

Conor McGregor UFC — Despite fighting at 145, McGregor walks around at 172 pounds. It takes him roughly eight days to cut the 27 pounds in order to make weight for weigh-ins. I know fighters are used to having to cut weight, but that's unbelievable.

2. Was On Welfare

Conor McGregor UFC

2. Was On Welfare

Conor McGregor UFC — The week before his UFC debut in 2013, McGregor was collecting 180 euros from welfare. Once he won that fight, he received $60,000 and vowed to spend every last penny of it. In fact, McGregor claims that he spends all the money earned from one fight before his next fight in order to stay hungry. Personally, I find that hard to believe.

1. Knocked Out Paddy Doherty In 4 Seconds

Conor McGregor UFC

1. Knocked Out Paddy Doherty In 4 Seconds

Conor McGregor UFC — At Immortal Fighting Championships 4 in April 2011, McGregor knocked out Paddy Doherty in four seconds, using only one punch. Since then, McGregor's straight left has become one of the most dangerous in MMA.

Jason Fletcher is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

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