15 rare pictures of Conor McGregor you need to see

Even the most casual of casual fans know that Conor McGregor, in just a few years, has revolutionized the sport of mixed martial arts. He went from standing in a queue to collect $235 welfare cheques to making $30 million in his boxing debut against no less than the legendary Floyd Mayweather.

But just like the recent super blue blood moon, McGregor's iridescence that lit up the MMA world briefly has all but vanished. It's been over a year since the Notorious one set foot in the octagon and we don't know when he will again, if at all. So in the meantime, here's a little aperitif to tide over everyone who has a bad case of the McGregor munchies

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#15 The little boy from Crumlin

He took a liking to suits at a very young age, obviously

Think of Conor McGregor as we know him today, then take a look at this picture. Beggars belief, doesn't it? Seeing the scrawny kid with the reluctant smile and fishbowl hair, no one would've thought he'd grow to be a combat sports superstar. The only constant is his partiality for good suits.

#14 Two-weight world champion much before UFC 205

McGregor with the CWFC Featherweight and Lightweight titles in 2012

Very few people live up to the boasts they make. Most buckle under the pressure and there are countless others who won't even dare to utter their ambitions with others listening. Conor McGregor is not one of them.

Even when he was just a pimply faced upstart paying his dues in mom-and-pop MMA outfits in the UK, McGregor didn't shy away from stating what he wanted. And long before he set foot on American soil, the Irishman showed everyone a sign of things to come when he became the Featherweight and Lightweight champion of the Cage Warriors Fighting Championships.

#13 Conor McGregor, the fanboy??!!

Conor McGregor with the then-face of MMA, Chuck Liddell

Conor Mcgregor is the biggest name in MMA at the moment and we're always used to seeing him being mobbed by fans, never the other way around.

But it wasn't always like this. Here's a 16-year-old McGregor attending his first UFC event and grinning ear-to-ear because he got a picture with the one and only Iceman.

#12 Behind every successful man...

McGregor with Dee Devlin

We are no stranger to seeing sporting icons go through marriages like they were mediocre opponents - just look at Mike Tyson, Kobe Bryant, and Floyd Mayweather.

But McGregor stands out in this aspect because we've only ever seen him with long time girlfriend and the mother of his son, Dee Devlin. Here they are in 2011, long before McGregor became the phenomenon he is today.

#11 Dutiful dad

Conor and Conor Jr

After beating Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, McGregor said he was taking some time off for the birth of his son. He's fought just once since then, which goes to show how serious he is. Here he is feeding his son, Conor Jr, who was born in May 2017.

#10 Greatness meets greatness

McGregor with Wayne Rooney

It's not every day that you get to see two icons of different sports in the same picture and even rarer when they bump into each other. But that's exactly what happened here with McGregor and Wayne Rooney.

And what's even more significant is that this picture was taken in March 2017 - a time when rumors swirled that Rooney was planning a return to Everton and McGregor was in talks over the Mayweather fight. Interestingly, Rooney was eligible to play for Ireland because his grandmother is Irish but turned it down.

#9 Dollar bills and broccoli aren't the only greens he likes

What's that in his right hand?

While we've heard McGregor say that "partying is the weakness of the soul", we've also seen him paint the town red, especially after his fights against Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, and Eddie Alvarez.

But this picture was taken before his historic fight at UFC 205, where he has what looks like a joint in his right hand. But this was after USADA increased the permissible amount of cannabinoids allowed in a fighter's system when out of the competition.

#8 Family time

The McGregors enjoying a meal in Dublin

He's jet-setted around the globe and sold out shows all over the USA, but McGregor shows there's no place like home as he dines out with his family in Dublin. This picture was taken in February, a few months before the birth of his son. The child in the picture is his sister, Erin's.

#7 Crashing J-Lo's birthday party

Conor McGregor at Jennifer Lopez's birthday party

Conor McGregor isn't one to be bound by rules and is used to getting what he wants. So when Cristiano Ronaldo was on his way to Jennifer Lopez's birthday party and saw that McGregor didn't have an invite, he told the Notorious one to tag along.

And far from being offended at having her party crashed, the pop sensation actually shook a leg with McGregor on the dance floor.

#6 The cost of fighting

Conor broke his leg in the Diaz rematch

Far from the bright lights, irrespective of whether you've had your hand raised or not, the cost of fighting catches up with you. At the end of the day, MMA is a bloodsport and even victory comes at a pound of flesh.

Proof of that is Conor McGregor hobbling out of the arena in crutches after his rematch against Nate Diaz at UFC 202, where he broke his leg from landing leg kicks on his opponent.

#5 Started from the bottom

Too much swag

Conor McGregor is never camera shy and much like the Octagon, always holds his own in a frame, no matter who he's sharing it with. In fact, he's actually one-upped the always stylish Drake in this picture.

#4 Good girl gone Notorious

B**** better have my money!

Have you ever wondered how in pics, celebs look like they're lifelong buddies but they're actually meeting for the first time?

Well, at least Conor McGregor and Rihanna have something in common - both of them are from tiny island nations and took over their respective worlds.

#3 Like father, like son

Conor teaching his son the finer things in life at an early age

The first thing Conor McGregor did with his first performance bonus was buy a couple of bespoke suits. And it looks like that's the first thing he wants Conor Jr. to learn to appreciate, too. Who do you think wore it better?

#2 Conor at a "coffee shop" in Amsterdam

He's ordering more than just a coffee

The term "coffee shop" means something very different in Amsterdam. As you can see, they serve much more than just coffee and pastries. And from the looks of it, Conor's pretty intrigued by the variety of marijuana they have, as he looks up at what we can assume is the menu.

#1 A little bit of Dee in my life, a little bit of Rita on the side?

Wasn't really a "date" date

Those who follow Rita Ora know that she's as much a tease as Conor McGregor on social media. But it was no less a shocker when the British pop star put up this pic on Twitter last December and captioned it "date night".

Needless to say, netizens were quick to sling mud at McGregor for "cheating" on his girlfriend of 10 years, Dee Devlin. First among them was his loyal human punching bag Artem Lobov who replied to Ora saying, "Sorry Rita, Burgers are nice but not when a man has steak at home." That was actually better than most of his fights.

But the reality is that both Rita Ora and Conor McGregor went to a fashion award ceremony as Donatella Versace's guests, who also included Lewis Hamilton. Goes to show that it pays off to have friends in high places.

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