'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABjAAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACBAAAgEDAgcBAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQhBQYHERITFCKS0QEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABBEAAgICAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAAREyKBwf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AlLa20dBHDXUrjyb+SK/gS4mxFGU7TuIOhSr5DKS/tkGprL2vPLS/I/aUoVKR35Sx33xVyNEhqFRotCCfdH7n/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Conor McGregor is by far one of the richest and most popular mixed martial artists on the planet. However, prior to joining the UFC, the former double champ was on social welfare. At the time, he was a failed plumber's apprentice who needed the money to stay afloat.
'The Notorious' reportedly collected his last welfare check, for a reported $235, en route to the airport ahead of his UFC debut in 2013. According to McGregor's coach, John Kavanagh, the pair nearly missed their flight due to the stop. Speaking with ESPN, Kavanagh stated:
"Dee [Devlin] drove me and him to the airport. We had to stop off to collect social welfare on the way. He'd take pictures with people and chat with people, and I'm like, 'We're going to miss this flight for your UFC debut.' And I don't have money to pay for another flight. Conor doesn't have money to pay for another flight."
Trending
McGregor needed just 67 seconds to knockout Marcus Brimage, earning a $60,000 Knockout of the Night bonus. In the post-fight press conference, he stated:
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
"I just won $60,000. I'm just thinking about what I'm going to spend it on. I'm going to get a nice car. Maybe some suits, customized suits. Just last week I was collecting social welfare. I didn't have money before this. I was collecting 188 euros a week off social welfare. Now here I am with a 60 Gs bonus. I don't know what the f**k is going on."
Conor McGregor has come a long way since making his UFC debut. He is now reportedly worth $200 million, thanks to the reported $100 million payday he received from his boxing match against Floyd Mayweather.
Eddie Alvarez once called out Conor McGregor for accepting welfare
Ahead of their UFC 205 lightweight title fight, Conor McGregor and Eddie Alvarez engaged in the type of trash-talk that was common for the then-featherweight champion. 'The Underground King' called out 'The Notorious' for accepting welfare, stating:
"You were on welfare, bro. You ain't no man. You took welfare. Don't talk about money. Don't you talk about money. You took money from single moms. Single moms go on welfare, not men. You don't talk about money, alright? Keep your mouth shut when you talk about money."
While McGregor seemed shocked and was unable to come up with a response, he did wind up getting the last laugh as he defeated Alvarez via a second-round TKO to become the first double champ in UFC history.
Watch Eddie Alvarez call out Conor McGregor below:
