Conor McGregor Last Fights: What Really Happened and What Is Next

Conor McGregor Last Fights: What Really Happened and What Is Next

It feels like a lifetime since we saw Conor McGregor actually win a fight in the Octagon. Seriously. If you’re looking at the history books, the "Notorious" one hasn't had his hand raised since January 2020. That’s a massive gap for someone who used to be the most active and terrifying force in combat sports.

When people search for conor mcgregor last fights, they’re usually looking for a specific answer: When did it all go wrong? The truth is, McGregor’s recent run isn't just a series of losses. It’s a chaotic saga of snapped bones, "Proper No. 12" whiskey, and a rivalry with Dustin Poirier that became way more personal than it ever needed to be. Honestly, it’s a bit of a tragedy for the purists. We went from seeing a guy who could predict the exact second of a knockout to a man screaming on the canvas with a shattered leg.

The Night Everything Changed at UFC 264

The most recent entry in the Conor McGregor last fights ledger is the trilogy with Dustin Poirier on July 10, 2021. This was supposed to be the "settle the score" moment. Instead, we got one of the most stomach-churning injuries in UFC history.

McGregor came out aggressive. He was throwing those trademark spinning back kicks and trying to prove that the "old Conor" was back. But Poirier, ever the professional, wasn't rattled. He checked the kicks. He landed big shots. Then, in the closing seconds of the first round, McGregor stepped back, his ankle rolled, and his lower tibia basically gave up.

  • Result: Dustin Poirier def. Conor McGregor via TKO (Doctor's Stoppage)
  • Round: 1 (5:00)
  • The Injury: A fractured lower tibia in the left leg.

It was a nightmare ending. McGregor was sitting against the cage, face red, shouting insults at Poirier’s wife while Joe Rogan held a microphone to his face. It didn't feel like sport anymore; it felt like a car wreck you couldn't look away from.

The Rematch That Shocked the World: UFC 257

Before the leg snap, there was the January 2021 rematch in Abu Dhabi. This is the fight that really broke the aura of invincibility. People forget that McGregor actually looked decent in the first round. He landed that piston-like left hand a few times.

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But Poirier had a plan: calf kicks.

He chewed up McGregor’s lead leg until Conor couldn't move. Once the mobility was gone, Poirier cornered him against the fence and unloaded. For the first time in his MMA career, Conor McGregor was knocked out cold.

Seeing McGregor slumped against the cage was surreal. It was the moment the world realized that while Conor was out selling whiskey and buying yachts, the lightweight division had evolved. The game had caught up to him.

The 40-Second Illusion against Cowboy Cerrone

If you look further back into conor mcgregor last fights, you’ll find the lone bright spot: UFC 246 in January 2020. McGregor fought Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone at welterweight.

It was a demolition.

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McGregor used his shoulders—of all things—to break Cerrone’s nose in the clinch. Then came a head kick and a barrage of punches. Forty seconds. That was it. At the time, we all thought the king was back. In hindsight, it was more of a "perfect matchup" against a veteran who was perhaps a bit past his prime. It gave fans a false sense of security before the Poirier disaster.

The Khabib Nightmare: UFC 229

We can't talk about his recent record without mentioning the Khabib Nurmagomedov fight in October 2018. Even though it's been years, the shadow of this defeat still looms over everything Conor does.

Khabib didn't just beat him; he mauled him.

The fourth-round neck crank submission was the technical end, but the psychological end happened much earlier. The post-fight brawl, where Khabib jumped over the cage to attack McGregor’s corner, turned a sports event into a full-blown international incident. Since that night, McGregor’s record in the UFC stands at a shaky 1-3.

Is the Return to the Octagon Finally Real?

It is now early 2026, and the rumors are louder than ever. We’ve been teased with a Michael Chandler fight for what feels like a decade. It was supposed to happen at UFC 303 in June 2024, but a broken toe (yes, a toe) sidelined McGregor again.

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Now, the talk is all about a "White House Card."

Dana White and the UFC are eyeing a historic event in Washington D.C. for June 2026. McGregor has been feverishly posting about it, using his typical "Make UFC Great Again" bravado. He recently popped up in a video with Mike Tyson at his Dublin pub, The Black Forge Inn, claiming he’ll never retire.

"We will fight until the end when we meet God," McGregor told Tyson.

Whether he actually makes it to the cage is anyone's guess. He’s been out of the USADA (or the new DFSI) testing pool, he’s faced legal hurdles, and he recently dealt with an 18-month ban following missed tests in 2024. But as of now, he’s eligible to compete again starting March 20, 2026.

Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors

If you’re following the McGregor saga, don't just buy the hype. Here is how you should actually look at his potential return:

  • Watch the Movement: If he fights in 2026, his leg health is everything. He’s 37 years old now. Tibia fractures are hard to come back from, especially for a guy who relies on a wide, bouncy karate stance.
  • The Weight Class Matters: McGregor at 155 lbs (Lightweight) is a depleted version of himself. He’s much more comfortable at 170 lbs (Welterweight) these-days, but he lacks the size of the true elites like Shavkat Rakhmonov.
  • Follow the Official Announcements: Ignore the Twitter (X) rants. Until Dana White puts a poster on the screen at a press conference, the Michael Chandler fight is just a theory.

McGregor remains the biggest draw in the sport, but his "last fights" show a decline that’s hard to ignore. Whether he can find one last "Mystic Mac" moment in 2026 is the biggest question in MMA.

To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the official UFC 324 announcements. That’s where the summer schedule will likely be solidified. If he's not on that June card, the "White House" dream might just be more McGregor smoke and mirrors.