Broken by Stardom

Conor McGregor has opened up about the heavy cost of his meteoric rise to global stardom, revealing how fame and constant promotion have tested his limits both in and out of the cage.

The Irishman burst onto the UFC scene in 2013, a whirlwind of charisma, sharp trash talk, and knockout power. Within years, he wasn’t just the face of mixed martial arts — he was one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet.

But behind the bravado, McGregor’s decade-long journey has been marked by controversy, legal battles, and declining form. The former two-division champion hasn’t fought since 2021 and has recorded just one UFC win since 2016.

Now serving as co-owner and promoter for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), McGregor recently showed an unusually reflective side while discussing how superstardom reshaped — and strained — his career.

“I wouldn’t be the first to tell you it almost broke me, and to be honest, maybe it did break me,” McGregor admitted, acknowledging the toll of balancing the spotlight with the fight game.

The 37-year-old said that the dual pressures of fighting and promoting took away the purity of competition he once enjoyed, suggesting that the stress of maintaining a global image often overshadowed his performance inside the Octagon.

With a potential UFC comeback on the horizon — possibly tied to a high-profile event at the White House next year — McGregor appears eager to strike a new balance. His goal, he says, is to ensure BKFC athletes don’t face the same burdens that once consumed him.

As talks continue about a possible bout against Michael Chandler, McGregor insists he’s taking things “day-by-day,” but his tone now carries the weight of hard-earned perspective.