“It was exciting,” UFC legend illuminates US political commentator why ‘featherweight’ Conor McGregor became a superstar instead of ‘physically bigger’ fighters

Chuck Liddell discusses Conor McGregor's unique blend of personality, marketing, and timely wins that propelled him to unprecedented MMA fame on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast.

“It was exciting,” UFC legend illuminates US political commentator why ‘featherweight’ Conor McGregor became a superstar instead of ‘physically bigger’ fighters

Conor McGregor became popular even though he fought at a lower weight class (Image via: IMAGO, Instagram)

Conor McGregor is MMA’s first global superstar. Chuck Liddell, Ronda Rousey, Brock Lesnar, Anderson Silva, and Georges St-Pierre were big stars during their heyday. However, no one has reached McGregor’s level of superstardom. Even Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s massive global appeal came from his fight with McGregor.

UFC legend Chuck Liddell was a recent guest on political commentator Bill Maher‘s YouTube show, Club Random with Bill Maher. The popularity of a relatively small Conor McGregor did not make sense for Maher. So, Liddell explained how McGregor became popular. This is what he said.

Marketing, um, he(Conor McGregor) was exciting, and he won when he needed to. He won excitingly; he beat some guys, knocked guys out when he needed to. I mean, sometimes it's just that he had a personality, and he was pushing it, and he got huge, you know. He beat some bad guys.
Chuck Liddell via Club Random with Bill Maher
YouTube video

Conor McGregor’s ascension to the top was nothing short of spectacular. Liddell explained marketing combined with McGregor’s performance inside and outside the octagon was the reason for his popularity. McGregor had an undefeated run in the featherweight division of the UFC, where he became champion. It was this run that got the attention of fans worldwide.

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Nevertheless, after his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. inside the boxing ring, he has only won once inside the octagon. Moreover, he last fought at UFC 264 when he broke his leg in the first round of his bout against Dustin Poirier. Rumors are that he will return at UFC 300 against Michael Chandler.

Conor McGregor calls his rematch with Nate Diaz the greatest UFC fight of all time

Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz have one of the sport’s iconic rivalries. After becoming the featherweight champion of the UFC, McGregor fought Nate Diaz twice in the welterweight division. In the first fight at UFC 196, Nate Diaz defeated McGregor with a rear naked choke submission. In the immediate rematch at UFC 202, McGregor won via majority decision. Moreover, both fights earned Fight of the Night bonuses.

Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz II
Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz II (Image via: X )

In 2018, fans voted McGregor vs Diaz II as the greatest fight of all time in the UFC. McGregor recently retweeted the post, claiming it to be the greatest fight of his career and the UFC. Fans speculate that the tweet might signify the duo having a trilogy fight at UFC 300.

Nate Diaz left the UFC after UFC 279 when he defeated Tony Ferguson via submission. He recently fought Jake Paul in boxing but lost via unanimous decision. Like Michael Chandler, Diaz is also rumored to fight McGregor at UFC 300.

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