Conor McGregor, the former UFC two-division champion, has received an unexpected honour more than two years after his last fight. McGregor proudly flashed his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu on social media. This honor comes after two decades of dedicated effort under the tutelage of his longtime coach, John Kavanagh of SBG Ireland.
Notably recognized for his striking prowess and a penchant for trash-talk, Conor McGregor has seldom been celebrated for his grappling skills. Hence, the sudden announcement of his black belt left fans astonished, some even calling it a jest.
One fan humorously remarked about McGregor’s accomplishments, saying, “Black belt in drinking and doing coke?” Another pointed out, “Black belt & never once submitted an opponent. But has been tapped out by two of the most basic chokes” Yet another chimed in, expressing concern, “Who give him this? We must cancel many black belts.”
One more fan questioned, “You been drinking your life away for the past 3 years how you get a black belt.” Lastly, a fan commented,“mcgregor and black belt bij dont go together”
Dillon Danis, in stark contrast, extended his congratulations to McGregor on his Instagram story, asserting that the achievement is well-deserved. Danis wrote, “Amazing achievement and very well deserved. So happy for my brother on receiving his black belt”.
This unexpected twist in McGregor’s combat sports journey has sparked a spectrum of reactions from the fighting community.
Conor McGregor has four submission losses in his MMA career so far
Conor McGregor’s journey through the world of mixed martial arts has been a rollercoaster ride, marked by moments of victory and, at times, humbling defeats. McGregor, a former two-division UFC champion, is widely recognized for his striking prowess and charismatic persona.
However, it’s his grappling struggles that have often defined his MMA career. That’s why his recent achievement does not seem really well-deserved to fans.
Notably, four of McGregor’s six professional losses have come via submission. Among the most memorable is the rear-naked choke he endured in his first showdown with Nate Diaz and the neck crank that forced him to tap when he clashed with his bitter rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov, at UFC 229.
What sets the black belt achievement of Conor McGregor apart is the unorthodox path he took to get there. Typically, fighters earn their black belts within 8 to 10 years of rigorous training. McGregor, however, embarked on his journey at Straight Blast Gym Ireland in 2008 and attained his black belt 15 years later in 2023.
McGregor’s disdain for grappling has been no secret, yet his dedication to the sport and his evolution as a fighter cannot be denied. With 28 MMA fights under his belt, he has won 22 of them, but just once by submission during his stint with Cage Warriors. In the promotion’s penultimate fight, McGregor won the featherweight title by submitting Dave Hill in round two with a rear-naked choke.
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