5 reasons why Conor McGregor is the biggest reason behind the UFC going mainstream

#2 Conor McGregor is a charismatic trash talker

One of the major reasons for the overwhelming crowds present at Conor McGregor's fights is the Irishman's legendary trash talk. While the world of combat sports is not new to trash talkers, there has never been someone more natural than Conor McGregor.

UFC events featuring 'Notorious' always generate hype, especially because of how the Irishman promotes his fights.

From making the crowd chant "F**k the Mayweathers" to apologizing to "absolutely nobody," Conor McGregor has redefined the art of trash-talking forever.

What sets Conor McGregor apart from other trash talkers in the UFC is an element of wit and humor. Instead of just saying mean things, McGregor incites laughter in the audience with jokes and retorts, all at the expense of his rival.

Apart from earning fans, Conor McGregor also uses his trash talk as a vital part of his mental arsenal against opponents. One outstanding example of McGregor getting into his opponent's head was the one-punch knockout of Jose Aldo at UFC 194.

Also watch: When Conor McGregor silenced Khabib Nurmagomedov with spectacular KO of Jose Aldo at UFC 194

#1 Conor McGregor and UFC pay-per-view records

Seemingly the biggest pay-per-view earner for the UFC, Conor McGregor has had an enormous role to play in the promotion going mainstream. Apart from being involved in all the top five UFC PPV buys, McGregor also features in seven of the top 10 UFC PPV events in history, outlining his global appeal.

Conor McGregor's title shot against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 remains the most lucrative fight in MMA history, having clocked 2.4 million pay-per-view buys. His most recent loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 was the second-most bought UFC pay-per-view in history. According to reports, UFC 257 did 1.6 million buys globally, with 1.2 million buys on ESPN+ in the USA alone.

While Conor McGregor might be the highest-paid fighter in history, he also brings in the requisite revenue.