The world of mixed martial arts will never be the same thanks to the rise of Conor McGregor. He took Ultimate Fighting Championship to new heights and crossed over into the mainstream world of sports like few others did before him. His ability to move the needle in 2016 earned him one of the hundred spots in Time’s “Most Influential People Of The Year” list.
His feature was penned by none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger, a mixed martial arts super-fan. Like McGregor, however, Schwarzenegger came from humble beginnings and left Hollywood more popular than it was when he entered the business. He and McGregor have a lot more in common than people know, so when Schwarzenegger wrote Conor’s feature it was a touching one. You can read his entry below, and click here for the rest of Time’s list:
“Conor McGregor is more than a fighter, more than an athlete, more than a champion—although, as the first person in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship to hold titles in two weight divisions at once, he is clearly all of those things. Conor is also the rare personality who has become bigger than his sport. That lean, compact body must struggle to keep his enormous character inside.
From the first time I met Conor, I knew he wasn’t the type of star you could box into one category. Since I’ve gotten to know him, I can tell you that what you see on the screen—the now familiar face of mixed martial arts—just scratches the surface. The Dublin native is razor-sharp, disciplined and charismatic. His energy is absolutely contagious, to the point where you almost start shouting in an Irish accent after 30 seconds of hearing that world-famous mouth.
Conor has a fire in his belly that can’t be quenched with championship belts. There are no brakes that can stop his engine.”
