Honestly, if you were a casual fan sitting at home in 2016 watching the UFC 205 press conference, you probably thought it was staged. It wasn't. When Conor McGregor leaned into the mic and uttered those six iconic words, he didn't just insult a fellow fighter. He effectively ended a man's "aura" in real-time.
Conor McGregor: Who the f* is that guy?** It became more than just a meme. It’s a case study in psychological warfare. But here’s the thing—ten years later, the context of that moment has shifted. Whether you're a die-hard MMA fan or someone who just saw the clip on TikTok yesterday, there's a lot more to the "Notorious" one than a lucky quip at Madison Square Garden.
The Moment the World Stopped
Let’s set the scene because it’s kinda hilarious in hindsight. It’s September 2016. The UFC is making its debut in New York. The stage is packed with champions. Jeremy Stephens, a veteran with hands like bricks, decides this is his moment. He interrupts a question to McGregor, claiming he’s the real hardest hitter in the 145-pound division.
McGregor doesn't even look at him. He doesn't get angry. He just looks around, squinting like he’s trying to find a lost contact lens, and asks the room: "Who the f*** is that guy?"
The crowd exploded. Stephens tried to fire back, but it was over. He was "that guy" forever.
People think Conor was just being a jerk. And yeah, he was. But if you look at the tape, he was also a master of the "status gap." By pretending he didn't know a top-tier contender who had actually fought on the same cards as him, he made himself look like a god and Stephens look like a fan who jumped the rail.
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Is He Still the Same Fighter?
It's 2026. Things are different now. The McGregor who dismantled Eddie Alvarez that same year feels like a lifetime ago. We’ve seen the boxing match with Mayweather, the whiskey billions, the broken leg against Dustin Poirier, and the long, weird hiatus.
Recently, Conor has been talking about a "spiritual journey." He’s mentioned being "healed" and "saved." For a guy whose brand was built on "red panty nights" and throwing dollies at buses, this is a massive pivot.
But can he still fight? That’s the $200 million question.
- The Physicality: After the tibia snap at UFC 264, his movement changed. He’s heavier. He looks like a bodybuilder now, which isn't always great for the fluid "in-and-out" style that made him a double champ.
- The Mindset: You can't be "hungry" when you’re eating steak on a $4 million yacht every night. It’s just physics.
- The USADA Drama: His 18-month suspension for missed anti-doping tests (which ends March 2026) has kept him on the sidelines, fueling rumors about what he’s actually doing in the gym.
The Business of Being Conor
If you want to know who Conor McGregor is today, don't look at his record. Look at his bank account. He’s basically a walking conglomerate.
He sold a majority stake in Proper No. Twelve for a deal valued at roughly $600 million. He owns The Black Forge Inn. He’s a co-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). He even starred in the Road House reboot, reportedly making over $5 million for his debut.
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He turned his mouth into a printing press. Even when he loses, he wins. When he fought Khabib, he lost the fight but walked away with an estimated $50 million. That's the part people miss. He isn't just a fighter; he’s the blueprint for the "athlete-entrepreneur" era.
Why We Still Care
Why is a guy who hasn't had a consistent win streak in years still the biggest name in the sport?
It’s the "Mandate of the Masses," as Chael Sonnen puts it. If Conor says he's fighting in June, the sports world stops. If he tweets at a champion, that champion’s stock goes up. He has a gravity that the UFC hasn't been able to replicate with anyone else—not Islam Makhachev, not Jon Jones, not even Sean O'Malley.
He’s the villain we love to watch. Or the hero we love to hate. Either way, we’re watching.
What Actually Happens Next?
If you’re looking for the "Who the f*** is that guy" magic to return, you might be disappointed. That era of McGregor was fueled by a specific kind of desperate ambition.
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However, his return in late 2026 is looking more likely. He’s been linked to the "White House Card" and a potential showdown with Michael Chandler (if that ever actually happens).
Actionable Insights for the McGregor Era:
- Watch the BKFC Transition: Keep an eye on his moves as a promoter. He’s arguably more dangerous with a microphone and a budget than he is in 4-ounce gloves these days.
- Separate the Meme from the Man: Don't get caught up in the Twitter (X) rants. Most of it is promotional noise to keep his name in the algorithm while he serves out his suspension.
- The Retirement Reality: Acknowledge that he doesn't need to fight. Any return is for legacy or ego, which makes him a very different, and perhaps more reckless, competitor.
Whether he ever wins another belt or not, Conor McGregor remains the only person in combat sports who could turn a random press conference interruption into a decade-long career defining moment.
He’s the guy who changed the "bum lives" of everyone he touched—mostly by making sure they never forgot his name.
To keep track of his official return date, you should monitor the UFC's active roster updates and the USADA (or now, Drug Free Sport International) testing pools, as his eligibility for a 2026 return depends entirely on those six months of clean testing.