When it comes to trash-talking, Conor McGregor is on a whole other level. He's delivered a multitude of quotes that have brought laughter, anger or left people speechless.
McGregor (21-4) competes in the octagon for the first time in 15 months on Saturday night when he meets Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in the main event of UFC 246 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
With his return, here's a look at the 10 most outrageous quotes in the career of Conor McGregor.
“We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over.”
McGregor had just returned from an 11-month layoff after suffering a torn ACL to knock out Diego Brandao in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland, at UFC Fight Night 46 in July 2014. This is the first promo that really made people take notice of the Irishman.
“I don’t give a s— what people say. I never did. I never do. I told you before the fight I was the s— and I’m telling you right now, I’m the s—.”
McGregor in a post-fight interview following his win over Brandao.
“I own this town. I own Rio de Janeiro. So for him to say that he is the king and I am the joker, if this was a different time, I would invade his favela on horseback and would kill anyone who wasn’t fit to work. But we’re in a new time, so I’ll whoop his ass (instead).”
This was the first press conference in March 2015 of the world tour to promote McGregor against featherweight champion Jose Aldo at UFC 189 in July of the same year. The presser took place in Aldo's home country of Brazil. The fight didn't end up happening at the time because of Aldo suffering a rib injury and having to pull out about 10 days before the show.
“When you sign to fight me, it’s a celebration. You ring back home, you ring your wife. ‘Baby, we’ve done it. We’re rich, baby. Conor McGregor made us rich. Break out the red panties.'”
The UFC hosted a press conference titled "Go Big" in September 2015 to promote the remaining fight schedule of the calendar year, highlighted by Aldo-McGregor at UFC 194 in December of that year. Then-lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos was asked about taking on McGregor, who followed up with that line.
“Just please show up December 12. I don’t want to scare him anymore. He’s petrified. He went running before. So I’m going to take the opposite approach: Cuddle him, look after him, whisper sweet nothings, tell him it’s going to be all right. It will be over quick.”
McGregor at the same September 2015 press conference above in wanting to state that he'd be willing to do anything to make sure that Aldo would make it to UFC 194.
“Who the f— is that guy?”
Perhaps the most famous McGregor quote of them all. McGregor was at a press conference to promote his UFC 205 fight with then-lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez. When he was asked a question by a reporter, Jeremy Stephens interrupted and said he was the fighter who would give McGregor the hardest fight and was the real hardest puncher of the featherweight division. McGregor turned around to Stephens and delivered the line one more time.
“I run this whole thing. I run New York. I run this whole ship. Without me, none of this happens. I run this whole s—. Everyone in this game does what they’re f—ing told except for me and rightly f—ing so.”
At the same press conference above, McGregor speaks about being in a position that most fighters would dream of being in.
“And I’d just like to say from the bottom of my heart, I’d like to take this chance to apologize — to absolutely nobody! The double champ does what the f— he wants!”
McGregor had just stopped Alvarez to win the lightweight title and become the first person in UFC history to hold two belts simultaneously. Throughout the post-fight interview, McGregor just kept asking for his second belt and proceeded to dole out that quote.
“How do I look? What the f— is he wearing? He looks like a little breakdancer or something, a little 12-year-old breakdancer, f—! What the f—? He’s 40! You’re 40 years of age. Dress your f—ing age. Carrying a schoolbag on stage. What you doing with a schoolbag on stage? You can’t even read! Forty years old carrying a schoolbag. The man doesn’t even f—ing read.”
McGregor embarked on a world tour to promote his boxing match with the legendary Floyd Mayweather Jr. During their stop in front of a raucous crowd in Toronto in July 2017, McGregor had the microphone went on a rant about how Showtime (which distrubuted the fight on pay-per-view) cut off his mic at the previous stop. The Irishman then proceeded to walk over to Mayweather and spewed off one of the most notable quotes of the tour.
“Me and Jesus are cool. I'm cool with all the gods. Gods recognize gods.”
UFC 196 was scheduled to be McGregor moving up to lightweight to challenge dos Anjos in March 2016. McGregor, who showed late, delivered one newsworthy headline after another, highlighted by the one above. The fight never ended up happening because of dos Anjos suffering an injury and being forced to withdraw.
Instead, Nate Diaz stepped up to what would be the first of two record-breaking fights.