Tag: mma
Tito Ortiz: Bodybuilders On Steroids Look Like “Skinny Broken Down Old Men” By Age 60
Tito Ortiz believes steroids should not be allowed in bodybuilding or any other sport.
Bodybuilding often gets criticized in the mainstream media for steroid use and lack of testing in the sport. Yet it’s important to note that other sports have their own problems with steroids – even with testing. MMA in particular has various federations that drug test their athletes – and there have been multiple times where an athlete has failed. The sad truth is that many athletes across all sports find ways to game the system. That’s why when we spoke with UFC Hall Of Famer Tito Ortiz, we wanted to get his opinion on drug testing in not only bodybuilding but sports overall. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Tito Ortiz explains why he thinks steroids have no place in any sports including bodybuilding.
Tito Ortiz is a powerhouse name in the MMA world. He is best known for his time in the UFC, where he is a former Light Heavyweight Champion, having held the title from April 14, 2000 to September 26, 2003. Ortiz was one of the MMA’s early stars and ultimately became the biggest pay-per-view draw of 2006 for his fights with Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, and Ken Shamrock.
We asked Tito Ortiz if he felt steroids and other performance enhancing drugs had a place in MMA and other sports. Without deliberation, Ortiz made it clear he was against steroids and PEDs in any sport. He finds it to give athletes a disadvantage and ultimately a health risk that isn’t worth it.
It might be easier to hold that opinion for a sport like MMA – where strength is a major factor in the competition. If you use PEDs to become stronger than someone in a fight, that can certainly be seen as unfair. But what about bodybuilding? A sport that is about the judgement of a physique and not a face off of physical ability. Does Ortiz draw a line for certain sports and not others?
We use an example here of testosterone. If a bodybuilder is naturally testosterone deficient compared to another – it could perhaps be considered more fair to allow PEDs so that the athlete can get an even chance against a genetically gifted bodybuilder. Tito Ortiz doesn’t agree. He thinks that an athlete needs to be aware of what they are getting into when they dedicate their life into a sport. If a bodybuilder cannot step up and try to fill that gap without the use of drugs – perhaps that’s just their lot in life.
Tito Ortiz further explains the kinds of risks that bodybuilders take when they decide to use PEDs and steroids to enhance their physique. He thinks there is a risk of young people watching bodybuilding or any other sport and idolizing steroids. That risk is not seeing the long game. They only look at the big bodybuilders or the powerful athletes. They don’t see the aftermath in their later years. Ortiz goes on to say that most bodybuilders who use PEDs in their prime look like “skinny broken down old men” by the time they hit sixty.
Do you agree with Tito Ortiz’s take on bodybuilding and steroids? Watch his full comments in our GI Exclusive interview segment above and let us know your thoughts!
Tito Ortiz Answers: Who Is The Greatest Bodybuilder Of All Time?
Tito Ortiz reveals his involvement and passion for bodybuilding, how it’s poised for a big comeback, and makes his pick for greatest bodybuilder of all time.
While Tito Ortiz is first and foremost a top tier MMA fighter, he has a deep respect, passion, and involvement with the sport of bodybuilding. Bodybuilding was the initial foundation that led Ortiz towards MMA in the first place – though he didn’t even know it was called bodybuilding at the time. He just wanted to get big. And he still holds a fire in his heart for the athletes in bodybuilding who keep pursuing that dream. So what does he think of the current state of the sport? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Tito Ortiz explains why he thinks bodybuilding is going to make a big comeback and also makes his pick on who is the greatest bodybuilder in history.
Tito Ortiz might not hold a mass monster physique, but his love and passion for getting big has been with him since he was a teenage. It’s what ultimately led him towards mixed martial arts – a path that would take him towards being one of the top fighters in MMA. Even though his life became about MMA, he never left bodybuilding behind. Ortiz currently works with a consulting firm for bodybuilding where he helps young bodybuilders learn how to market themselves. An important part of any sport to bring more eyeballs on the competitions and thus bring more mainstream attention (and cash) to an athlete or league.
Tito Ortiz is a man who keeps watch on the bodybuilding world just as much as he focuses on his MMA career. Given that level of passion for bodybuilding, what does he think of the current state of the sport? Many have expressed that the quality of physiques is going downhill compared to decades past. Does Ortiz agree? He couldn’t think that it’s farther from the truth and he points more towards statistics to prove his point.
Tito Ortiz actually believes that bodybuilding is in the process of making a comeback (which of course implies that he at least thinks at some point it went downhill). He points towards how the Olympia and many other major competitions grow in size every year. Perhaps people verbally complain about the physiques being lower quality – but the attendance seems to argue the opposite. Or perhaps, that the change is minuscule compared to how many people find the sport as whole entertaining to watch.
Perhaps the fans arguing for a chance is a part of the beginning for some sort of comeback. With the introduction of the Classic Physique division a few years ago and its continued success – we might just be too close to the action to realize a long term progression that signals bodybuilding will be bigger than ever in the coming decade.
We decided to end off our conversation with Tito Ortiz about bodybuilding by rewinding and looking to the past. Who was the greatest bodybuilder in the history of the sport? Tito Ortiz jumps right over usual picks such as Ronnie Coleman or Lee Haney – and goes for the old school original choice. Ortiz thinks Arnold Schwarzenegger is the greatest of all time. This is when you consider the big picture of everything he accomplished. He is arguable the only bonafide bodybuilding mainstream celebrity. That kind of success legitimized the sport and put it into the spotlight. And to Ortiz, that makes him the greatest of all time.
You can watch Tito Ortiz’s full comments on bodybuilding in or latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Tito Ortiz: The Top 3 Best & Worst Moments Of His MMA Career
Tito Ortiz looks back at both the biggest highs and lowest lows of MMA fighting career.
Life is full of highs and lows. Not surprisingly, the bigger risk you take the bigger the reward. It doesn’t come without a few blemishes upon looking back. These kinds of risks are necessary for pro athletes who want to become the best. This holds true for Tito Ortiz. You don’t become a champion MMA fighter without making a few mistakes along the way. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Tito Ortiz breaks down the top three best and worst moments of his MMA fighting career.
While Tito Ortiz isn’t done fighting just yet, he has lived a full and exciting life as a MMA fighter. That’s why we asked him to look back at his full career and recount the highest highs and the lowest lows of his career. You can’t have the highs without the lows. And for pro athletes, failures often lead to learning and experience. They help build a competitor into the champion they will one day become.
So it seems fitting that Tito Ortiz starts off by listing his failures. He mentions this is to end on a high note but one can’t help but think it’s also because the lows truly do teach us how to become more successful. As we bounce back and learn from hindsight – we become stronger as a result.
For Ortiz, the lows truly hit hard. He mentions losing his title to Randy Couture, wearing a t-shirt that stated, “Dana’s my bitch,” and most painful of all – being accused of physical assault against his former girlfriend. Eventually the accusation was recanted – but the firestorm the indecent brought upon him and his family was a fight that no amount of MMA training could prepare him for.
And family is a big word for Tito Ortiz – as it ends up taking two whole picks for his greatest moments in his MMA career. Ortiz starts by describing the high of becoming a champion. This is a moment one certainly saw coming on his list of top 3 best career highs. He followed it up with the birth of his fist son and his final pick of the life he was able to give his children. To Ortiz, seeing his family provided for through his passion of fighting is a gift no championship title can overcome.
You can watch Tito Ortiz go into detail about his darkest low moments and his powerful high moments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
*Header image courtesy of Instagram
Former UFC Fighter Chad Mendes Channels Canelo, Mike Tyson in Savage Training
Could Chad Mendes be training for a potential UFC comeback?
It appears that Chad Mendes is prepping for something big. The former top UFC featherweight appears to be getting the itch for competition. While he may have retired from competition, the fire is still burning and Mendes looks more than capable for a comeback.
A former rival of Conor McGregor and current featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski, Chad Mendes has a ton of experience in high level competition. He had one of the greatest battles of all-time again former featherweight king Jose Aldo. Mendes possessed the kind of raw potential to become a champion. But after his battle with Volkanovski, he decided to call it quits.
Since then Chad Mendes has embraced his love of hunting and being a rugged outdoorsman. He has shown incredible proficiency with a compound bow and an impressive savvy when it comes to hunting.
That said, Chad Mendes still continues to train like a top athlete. When you truly love something it can be hard to let it go, especially when it’s been in your life for so long. Still performing like an absolute beast, it appears that Mendes is starting to get that itch for competition once again.
In a recent training video, Chad Mendes channeled boxing greats Canelo Alvarez and Mike Tyson. In doing so, Mendes has looked tremendous. Not only has his physique improved, but his boxing skills as well thanks to his new boxing coach Joey Rodriguez.
Another hard boxing session with @joey_rodriguez916 crushed!!
The timing, power, footwork and speed have been coming together the last few weeks! Been loving the @miketyson and @canelo style of boxing baby!
The itch is getting stronger and stronger! Might have to start talking some numbers soon…..??♂️????
That post in itself shows that Chad Mendes is thinking about a comeback. In all honesty, if he still has the juice, he should definitely give competing another go. His training shows that he is more than capable of performing at a high level.
Besides the strength and conditioning, the lifelong wrestler has also been showing much improved striking. He was already a great striker before, but now Chad Mendes looks even more clean than ever.
What do you think of Chad Mendes, his training and a potential comeback?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Joe Rogan Thinks This Could Be How Conor McGregor Broke His Leg
Could this be how Conor McGregor broke his leg?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know the result of the recent trilogy bout between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor. The outcome was marred by the fact that McGregor broke his leg at the end of the first round.
After a fast start in round one, Conor McGregor found himself on his back for much of the first round. Dustin Poirier was raining down some heavy shots from top position and made every strike count. McGregor did well to survive, but he was definitely beaten and bruised after the first frame.
Then the two found themselves back on the feet, ready for a striking battle once again. The two traded blows and then the unexpected happened. After attempting to throw a left cross, Conor McGregor stepped back on his left leg and his shin suddenly snapped.
Ouch…
Many people have been speculating about what caused his injury, Joe Rogan being one of them. The comedian and UFC commentator was there to see the injury occur live. Rogan would go on to make a post on his Instagram where he and MMA coach Eric Nicksick believe Conor McGregor broke his leg.
Viewer Discretion Advised
This is it. You can see where it breaks. Shoutout to @eric_xcmma’s mom! If you go to @laura_sanko’s page she did an amazing job interviewing @coach_kavanagh and he describes exactly what we’re seeing here.
Repost: @eric_xcmma ⚡︎ Credit to my mom, yes, my mom wrote me at 7am to tell me she thinks Conor broke his foot off Dustin’s elbow after throwing the rear teep kick. After slowing it down, it makes a lot of sense. Watch the integrity of his foot before and after. You be the judge ⚡︎
That was pretty painful to watch.
The speculation is that Conor McGregor broke his shin when Dustin Poirier defended his front kick with an elbow block. It certainly makes sense, though the likelihood that the defensive motion was enough to shatter bone is a bit hard to believe. Others speculated that McGregor may have injured the leg in his training.
While kicking the bag or an elbow or shin during sparring, McGregor could have had a fracture in his shin, one that possible wasn’t noticeably painful. From there the constant kicking and contact could have wore down the bone. Eventually the fight with Poirier took place and McGregor’s leg could have been compromised after throwing one of his kicks, resulting in the break.
For now it’s all just speculation. What isn’t speculation is Conor McGregor making himself clear that he’s not ready to hang it up just yet.
Onwards and upwards we go ☘️ pic.twitter.com/qKgochlT3t
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 12, 2021
What do you think of Conor McGregor and his recent devastating leg break?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 3 Results
The third battle between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor has been decided.
It’s finally here. The battle that the mixed martial arts world has been waiting for. Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor met for the third time to settle the score.
The first bout saw Conor McGregor using a fleet footed style, bouncing in and out of range, scoring power shots with pinpoint accuracy. Dustin Poirier had a handful of moments in that first bout, but ultimately it was McGregor who scored a devastating knockout over the future interim lightweight champion.
The rematch would come several years after their first meeting. Conor McGregor had since become a two division champion and one of the most recognized figures on the planet. Dustin Poirier would go on to become the interim lightweight champion after besting Max Holloway.
The second bout between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor was far different than the first. The first round saw McGregor landing some solid punches, likely winning him the round on all score cards. Despite that however, McGregor sustained significant damage to his legs from the powerful low kicks of Poirier. The second frame would see Poirier continue the assault to the legs that would cripple McGregor and lead to his rival landing solid boxing combinations. Poirier finished the fight, forcing a third meeting between himself and McGregor.
The Results
When the dust settle and all the blows were thrown, Dustin Poirier defeated Conor McGregor by TKO (injury).
Did you tune into Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Brian Shaw, Tom Stoltman and Other Strongmen Predict Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 3
Strongman competitors pick who they believe will win the third bout between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor.
The third bout between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor is upon us. Some UFC were able to catch up with some of the best strongman athletes in the world at the 2021 World’s Strongest Man competition. The competitors gave their predictions on who would win the trilogy at UFC 264.
This weekend will see the conclusion of a trilogy bout for the record books. Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor are set to face off for the third time, both fighters going one and one in this epic series of fights. McGregor took the first bout while Poirier got his revenge in the second. Now the two bitter rivals hope to settle the score once and for all at UFC 264.
Epic Rivalry
The first bout saw Conor McGregor using a fleet footed style, bouncing in and out of range, scoring power shots with pinpoint accuracy. Dustin Poirier had a handful of moments in that first bout, but ultimately it was McGregor who scored a devastating knockout over the future interim lightweight champion.
The rematch would come several years after their first meeting. Conor McGregor had since become a two division champion and one of the most recognized figures on the planet. Dustin Poirier would go on to become the interim lightweight champion after besting Max Holloway.
The second bout between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor was far different than the first. The first round saw McGregor landing some solid punches, likely winning him the round on all score cards. Despite that however, McGregor sustained significant damage to his legs from the powerful low kicks of Poirier. The second frame would see Poirier continue the assault to the legs that would cripple McGregor and lead to his rival landing solid boxing combinations. Poirier finished the fight, forcing a third meeting between himself and McGregor.
Now the time has arrived and everyone is weighing in on who will win the trilogy. That includes some of the strongest men on the planet. The UFC caught up with the competitors at the 2021 World’s Strongest Man and asked for some predictions. Below is a list of the competitors who gave their predictions.
The Predictions Are In
Terry Hollands – Conor McGregor
Travis Ortmayer – Dustin Poirier
Gavin Bilton – Conor McGregor
Tom Stoltman – Dustin Poirier
Oleksii Novikov – Dustin Poirier
Eddie Hall – Conor McGregor
Evan Singleton – Dustin Poirier
Maxime Boudreault – Conor McGregor
Luke Richardson – Dustin Poirier
JF Caron – Dustin Poirier
Brian Shaw – Dustin Poirier
Mikhail Shivlyakov – Conor McGregor
Zydrunas “Big Z” Zavickas – Conor McGregor
Brian Shaw himself has trained with Dustin Poirier in the past, so no surprise on who he was picking. It will certainly be interesting to see the outcome of the bout. With the strongman competitors favoring Poirier over Conor McGregor 7-6 it’ll be interesting to see who got it right.
Who do you think wins at UFC 264, Dustin Poirier or Conor McGregor?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
The Personal Keto Diet Experience: Is It The Best Fat Loss Program Out There?
My personal keto experience.
The Ketogenic diet has been gaining a ton of popularity in recent years. While there have been many low carb diets that have influenced the masses as of late, the keto diet has really made a major impact and with good reason. The keto diet works and that’s not just hyperbole. In the past when I needed to cut weight for fights or even now when a fighter needs advice for shaving off those last few pounds, the keto diet has always been the answer.
A Whole New World of Options
So the initial switch from rice, potatoes, beans, and other carb filled products to fats like oils, avocados, and nuts was a bit daunting. You basically throwaway everything that you’ve grown to love and replacing it with foods that just aren’t the same. Being keto means embracing fats which is something so many people seem to get wrong. Fats are demonized mainly because they are so calorie dense, not because they’re horrible for you. Yes, there are the trans fats that you want to avoid at all costs, but coconut oil and avocados will actually do your body good rather than the reverse.
The options you have at your disposal may at first seem limited, but that’s why you have a little thing called a brain. Research is required to do keto the right way. You can easily get caught up in the pitfalls of eating way too much protein while on the diet which will push you right out of the sweet spot of ketosis. Ketosis is when your body switches over from using carbs for fuel to fats. If you spend too much time eating chicken breast and not enough time consuming oils and nuts then you’re probably doing something wrong.
Entering Ketosis
With my experience first entering ketosis I noticed having a very dry sensation. What does that mean? Well, whether you’re drinking a few sips or all the water your body can handle, it always felt as if you’re just constantly dry. For whatever reason, there was a constant feeling of never getting enough water. But that’s only one man’s observation after all. I venture to bet that every person will have a different experience initially.
Energy Levels
In terms of the energy levels, there have been talks that lifting heavy or doing explosive work on a keto diet is ill advised and could be taxing on the body. Considering that the average person gets most of their energy through carbohydrates, switching over to fats as your primary fuel source does feel a bit different. Initially you’re going to feel sluggish, there’s no doubt. After passing the first hurdle however, life gets better and the suffering passes.
A keto diet during fight week and when you’re just living your everyday life can be considerably different. On fight week sodium intake is put in check. That means you’re not going to be slogging down barrels of salt while you’re trying to cut water weight. Sodium holds onto water which means kicking the table salt to the wayside. If you’re simply trying to lose fat however, the sodium intake is less of a worry. That doesn’t mean pour a mountain of salt on your food, but it does mean you don’t have to be nearly as strict as a fighter or bodybuilder getting prepped for competition.
Results
As far the results go, water weight melts off of you like butter (another fat source to be embraced on keto by the way). When you add the high fat, moderate protein, and low carb method to your diet along with vast quantities of water, you’ll watch as your body dumps out the extra fluid. That said, we have to understand that water weight and fat are entirely two different things.
Water weight comes back easily which means if you hop on the keto diet for a week, see crazy results, get lazy and stuff your face with garbage, you can expect to see the pounds come right back.
Whenever I cut weight for a fight it was less about getting fat off forever and more about getting the water out of my system while still holding onto my muscle. Hind sight being twenty-twenty however, putting back all of the water I had lost the week prior over night wasn’t perhaps the smartest approach. In fact, after one massive twenty pound cut within one week, I packed back on the pounds by eating whatever I pleased. I thought to myself “I’ve been disciplined enough for the last several weeks, no big deal in celebrating a bit.” Little did I know that would end up throwing my metabolism off the rails and pack a good deal of fat onto my frame.
If you’re looking to keep the results of your hard work and dedication then you need to stay strict and maintain the diet for an extended period of time. It also means having a plethora of choices at hand so you won’t fall off the wagon due to lack of options. This may be a bit of “broscience” but by sticking to the game plan for a short time and throwing it all out the window, it ensured that the results would go up in smoke. The secret to success on the keto diet is by looking at it as a lifestyle choice rather than just some fad you’re looking to take up. Staying in ketosis for a long range of time will ensure that you’re not just dropping water weight, but that you’re burning fat as well. But that requires something else.
Training on Keto
Can you lose fat and maintain muscle on a keto diet alone? Yes, that’s totally possible. That said, it works even better if you’re training hard to maintain your muscle mass. Staying active, primarily with resistance training, explosive movements like heavy bag work and sprints, while adding some steady state cardio like walking or jogging into the mix will blast fat easily while you’re in ketosis.
Some people believe you can grow weaker while on a keto diet, but really it’s about what you’re fueling up on. If you have some grass-fed ground beef or steak with avocado and nuts, you’ll be surprised just how explosive and powerful you’ll feel on keto. It’s all about training smart and meal planning intelligently if you want to make strength and muscle gains.
Long Term Use
So can you stay on the keto diet long term? Well, I’ll say so far so good. being sure to understand your options is a big deal with this diet so you’ll need to game plan in order to keep up. But just from personal advice, give yourself a refeed day after about two to three weeks of being on the diet. That means reintroducing carbs back into your diet which will both boost your metabolism while at the same time satisfying those urges and cravings you could be having.
If you start a refeed in the first week, it could be a slippery slope which could lead to binging. Instead you should make smart carb choices while sneaking a cheat meal in there somewhere. We’re all human, so we need a little break from things once in awhile.
While you could follow a keto diet indefinitely, it would be a good idea to alternate between a traditional macro approach and a keto diet every other week or at your leisure. Variety is the spice of life after all and being limited to fifty grams of carbs all the time can become a bit unrealistic at times. All in all, it’s an effective diet that requires a lot of diligence and patience to follow, but will get you the results you desire.
For a more scientific in-depth look at how the keto diet can be effective for bodybuilders, make sure to check out Dr. Jacob Wilson’s researched breakdown on the diet and many other insights on bodybuilding nutrition with Generation Iron Plus.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.
Former UFC Champ Georges St-Pierre Shows Shredded Transformation at Age 40
Georges St-Pierre has gotten shredded in his post fight career.
Georges St-Pierre is looking absolutely shredded these days. The former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion recently revealed his new and improved physique. The most shocking part is that St-Pierre is looking in this kind of shape at age 40.
Georges St-Pierre was once known for dominating the opposition in the UFC. Now these days the former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion has been known for his roles in shows like The Falcon and The Winter Solider.
How do you say “you just messed with the wrong French guy” without actually saying it?
The combat sports athlete has become a full-fledged star at this point. But recently the former UFC champ has been in the news for another reason: his incredible physique.
Georges St-Pierre has always had an incredible physique. When he was dominating the UFC welterweight division, St-Pierre did so with a style and class all his own. He not only performed like a high level athlete, but he also looked the part as well. With an absolutely shredded physically form, St-Pierre sat atop the welterweight division and ruled things with an iron fist.
Georges St-Pierre then retired from competition on top or rather that’s what the MMA world thought. St-Pierre would eventually make his return to the octagon where he would take on then UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping. In that bout St-Pierre would pack on a considerable amount of muscle to be able to contend with the bigger man.
It seems that Georges St-Pierre was able to hold on to the muscle he built for that fight. A recent photo of the former double champ shows St-Pierre in absolutely shredded condition as he’s stripped away layers of fat to reveal the muscle underneath.
Shredded Form
After cutting out processed food for few weeks, here’s my final result. War face # 2 ??
Georges St-Pierre is looking in top condition and is putting many young fighters to shame in physique alone. Could we eventually see the all-time great back in action again? Only time will tell.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Conor McGregor Tops Forbes Highest Paid Athlete List
Conor McGregor is Forbes’ highest paid athlete.
There was a time when names like Lebron James, Floyd Mayweather, and Manny Pacquiao dominated Forbes’ highest paid athlete list. While James still made it onto the list it’s clear that there’s a new king in town. It appears that former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has topped the list.
One of the most popular and polarizing figures in sports today, Conor McGregor has come a long way. In 2013 he was still collecting welfare to make ends meet. Now he has seen his net worth skyrocket in the past 12 months.
Hard Work Pays Off
Besides his massive fights with Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone and Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor would earn a tremendous amount of money outside of fighting. Getting inside the octagon once paid the bills for McGregor. Now his entrepreneurial ventures have earned him the lump sum of his millions in the last calendar year.
His sale of his majority stake in his Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand to Proximo Sports saw Conor McGregor earn a cool $150 million. Not too shabby for the Irishman who didn’t know how he’d manage to pay his bills just eight short years ago. His total earnings tally in at $180 million.
So now that Conor McGregor has made tons of money from his fighting career, businesses, and endorsements, does that mean he’s hanging it up?
Well apparently not.
Conor McGregor is still scheduled to have the trilogy match with Dustin Poirier this summer. The two are one and one heading into the third fight. In fact, McGregor’s loss this past January is likely to make this third match with Poirier even bigger. Both men are set to earn a ton of money in this third match. The amount will easily eclipse their first to two bouts.
While Conor McGregor may have all the money he could ask for, the fact that he’s still competing says something about his yearning to leave a legacy. There’s no reason for him to compete outside of getting revenge and cementing himself as the better man in this rivalry. Most other people who have earned as much as him would kick their feet up and chill out, enjoy the good life and retire. But the fact that he still wants this fight shows that his competitive fire is still burning bright.
What do you think of Conor McGregor topping the Forbes’ highest paid athlete list?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.