Conor McGregor has come a long way since his days as an apprentice plumber.
Before becoming the UFC’s first dual-weight champion, McGregor was pursuing a very different career, and he borrowed money to get tools for his chosen trade.
McGregor is arguably the biggest star in MMA historyCredit: Zuffa LLC via Getty
‘Notorious’ was also training at Crumlin boxing gym under Olympian Phil Sutcliffe and Patrick ‘Bra’ Brady, who made his living as a plumber.
Bra lent McGregor €70 (£60) to get himself some tools under the promise it would get paid back – but 2021’s highest-earning athlete forgot about the debt for 15 years.
“I’m a plumber all my life, retired now, but Conor wanted to be a plumber so when he started off, he’s 16, I said I’ll get him his tools,” Bra told SunSport.
“I knew a fella that worked in the trade that could get the tools for cheap.
“I said, I’d get him the tools and he can pay me back week by week because he used to be at the club.
“I said, ‘You got them?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I’ll pay ya back.’ But he never did.”
In 2017, McGregor made $100million for a boxing bout with Floyd Mayweather.
After getting knocked out in round ten of his squared circle debut, the Irishman regretted not teaming up with old boxing coaches, so he began training with Sutcliffe and Bra again.
McGregor repaid them for their hours by spending thousands renovating the gym.
The 36-year-old even boxed on their club show to raise money and kit out the coaches with custom tracksuits, but he still didn’t give Bra his money back.
McGregor is now rich beyond his wildest dreamsCredit: Getty
It took 15 years, but ‘Bra’ finally got his money backCredit: Crumlin Boxing Club – Facebook
He added: “It was 15 years later he paid me back, that’s when he wanted to get on the show.
“He gave us a few things, a new ring and things like that, tracksuits and all that. He said, ‘Are you happy with that?’
“I said, ‘Yeah, but one more thing… I want my 70 quid!'”
McGregor wrote a cheque to clear his long-standing debt and the two men hilariously posed for a picture together with it.
Bra didn’t charge any interest, not that ‘Mystic Mac’ would have any issues paying it as he is now the head of a business empire and is worth £200m.
McGregor bought a Lamborghini ‘super-yacht’ for £2.9m and has been sailing around on boats for much of his three-year injury layoff.
A fight with Michael Chandler is booked, and he’s currently waiting for a new date from UFC boss Dana White, who recently teased that McGregor fight news is imminent.
Sliding into the weekend! Happy Friday ☀️🙏 pic.twitter.com/J7C17N87Vd
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 30, 2024
In the meantime, McGregor is at sea with his family on a big boat.
On Friday, he shared a video to X that showed him coming down an inflatable slide, which was attached to the massive vessel.
Fans are keeping their eyes locked on his social media accounts as it seems like a matter of time before he reveals exactly when his eagerly anticipated comeback bout will take place.