From welfare to custom suits, Conor McGregor says UFC win biggest of career

STOCKHOLM – While it’s already being praised as one of the most impressive UFC debuts in recent memory, Conor McGregor’s UFC on FUEL TV 9 win didn’t just boost his notoriety in the sport: It’s also going to get him off welfare.

“Just last week I was collecting the social welfare,” McGregor (13-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) said at Saturday’s UFC on FUEL TV 9 post-event press conference. “I was in there saying to them, ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m signed to the UFC. I don’t know. Blah, blah, blah.’ Now I supposed I’m just going to have to tell them, ‘F–k off!’”

UFC on FUEL TV 9 took place Saturday at Stockholm’s Ericsson Globe Arena. The evening’s main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on Facebook.

The 24-year-old McGregor has long been well-known on the Irish MMA scene. Fighting professionally since 2008, “Notorious” has never fought into the third round and simultaneously held the U.K.-based Cage Warriors promotion’s lightweight and featherweight titles.
In his UFC debut, McGregor competed at 145 pounds and scored an impressive 67-second knockout by calmly avoiding opponent Marcus Brimage’s aggressive flurries and countering with pinpoint strikes that secure a quick finish.

UFC President Dana White marveled at the performance of the debuting fighter.

“Let me put it this away: I’m blown away,” White said. “First of all, it’s his first fight ever in the UFC. he walked out tonight and got into the octagon like it was his 100th fight in the UFC.

“From the minute it all started, he was nice and relaxed. He moved around. Even after he gets the knockout, it’s like he’s been here before and done it 100 times. Kid is totally relaxed. He’s a beast. I’m impressed.”

In addition to the adulation, McGregor’s performance earned him a $60,000 bonus for the evening’s “Knockout of the Night,” and the victorious fighter said he plans on putting the money to good use.

“To be honest, I don’t know what’s going on here,” McGregor said with a laugh. “I’m just up here hearing $60,000. I’m just thinking of what I’m going to spend it on. Maybe a nice car and some suits or something, some custom-made suits. I don’t know.

“I don’t have f—ing money. I didn’t have money before this. I was colelcting €188 a week off the social welfare. Now here I am with like $60,000 bonus and my own pay. I don’t know what the f–k is going on to be honest.”

White said he expects McGregor to fight again in August, when the promotion visits Boston, a town with a long history of a passionate Irish community. It’s not clear who he’ll fight or even in what division, as McGregor said he’s just fine continuing on as a two-division contender.

“I’ll go either 145 or 155 – whatever’s available,” McGregor said. “I stay ready so I don’t have to get ready, you know? So whatever’s there, I’ll take. I need a couple more weeks for featherweight, of course, but I’ll take lightweight, as well, no problem.

“I’ve just got to keep busy. Competition keeps me focused. Anytime I don’t have competition ahead of me, I just seem to drift. So I want to be kept busy, and that’s it. Whatever, wherever and whenever.”

Another scintillating performance, and the UFC just might have to return to Ireland for the first time 2009.

“We love this sport [in Ireland],” McGregor said. “It was great to see all the Irish lads out there. It was unbelievable. Hopefully that persuades Dana to come back to Dublin. There’s some great fighters over in our area. Hopefully we get a show out of this.”

For complete coverage of UFC on FUEL TV 9, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.