Conor McGregor is the most popular UFC fighter going. Just check Sports Illustrated.
McGregor landed on this week’s SI cover, making him the first male UFC athlete to grace the cover since Roger Huerta in 2007. It speaks to McGregor’s popularity as much as his success, as mixed martial arts fans everywhere tend to have an opinion about the outspoken Irishman.
McGregor was scheduled to fight Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 196 on March 5, but dos Anjos pulled out Tuesday with a foot injury. McGregor now will fight Nick Diaz at the pay-per-view event in Las Vegas.
The stakes aren’t quite as high with dos Anjos out of the picture, as McGregor was aiming to take dos Anjos’ lightweight championship and become the first fighter in UFC to hold titles in multiple weight classes simultaneously. But McGregor obviously remains a huge draw.
Wherever McGregor goes, attention tends to follow.
Thumbnail photo via Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports Images
