Ireland’s Finest: The Most Recognized Irish Fighters in UFC History

The same slogan couldn’t be truer when looking at Ireland’s involvement in mixed martial arts, mainly the UFC, over the last decade. We might not have a gargantuan roster of Irish-born fighters compared to the USA, Brazil, or Russia. Still, Ireland has undoubtedly made its mark on the sport and continues to flourish thanks to those who’ve pathed the way for up-and-coming talents from the Emerald Isle.

The ’Luck of the Irish’ holds no place for the following UFC fighters from Ireland. Past or present, current or retired, join us as we delve into Ireland’s finest and pay respects to UFC’s most recognized Irish combatants.

Top 6 Irish UFC Fighters

1. Conor McGregor: The Face of Mixed Martial Arts

Ask any non-MMA fan on this planet to name a fighter, and 99% of the answers will be ‘Conor McGregor.’ The Mac-Daddy isn’t just the most successful fighter from Ireland; he’s the biggest name in mixed martial arts, full stop! He might not have the greatest record or championship reign, but nobody comes close to’ Notorious’ regarding brand value, financial superiority, and popularity.

We’ve watched McGregor competing in various UFC weight categories, including featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight, but nothing is more memorable than his 145lb run. Conquering Jose Aldo by knockout in 14 seconds to end a four-year title streak and unbeaten UFC record the Brazilian held, to this day, is one of the most pivotal moments, not only in UFC history but for mixed martial arts overall.

There Was More Than a Pot of Gold at The End of The Rainbow for Conor McGregor

Alongside his unique personality, bold confidence, and always-entertaining shi* talk, McGregor’s rise to the top, including two-division UFC championship status at featherweight and lightweight, has cemented him as the face of MMA and an inspiration for not just Irish fighters but every martial artist worldwide looking to follow in his footsteps.

Outside of the octagon, no fighter in MMA history has achieved the wealth and success he has. Conor McGregor’s salary for Roadhouse alone was estimated to be around $5.5 million. Now, couple such earnings with business ventures, including his whiskey, Irish stout, fitness, record label, and gambling brands, he’s en route to billionaire status… something that may never be duplicated by a UFC fighter again.

The best part? No matter how many Lamborghini yachts, expensive suits, or watches he can afford, McGregor’s passion for fighting remains. He’s now part-owner of BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship), and his UFC return, following injuries and side missions, is expected to be in 2025.  

2. Ian Machado Garry: Ireland’s Next Best Hope at UFC Gold

Aged just 26 with a 6’3” frame and an unblemished record, the nickname ‘The Future’ might be the perfect moniker for Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry. With a beautiful ability to strike at range, control the distance, and even mix in some grappling when necessary, he’s already dubbed a future title contender despite being in his mid-twenties.

Garry Loves the Controversy

After watching and idolizing the career of fellow Irishman Conor McGregor, it’s no surprise that Ian Garry has been involved in several controversial moments during his UFC tenure. Whether he’s calling Neil Magny a child beater or trading verbal exchanges with Colby Covington, he might not be as popular as the Notorious one, but he’s certainly made his fair share of headlines.

None of these moments, however, eclipse his in-cage talents, specifically in the striking realm. With 15 straight wins as a professional mixed martial artist and eight in the UFC, the Dublin native is arguably one or two wins away from title contention, thus making him the next best hope after McGregor for UFC gold to return to Ireland.

3. Cathal Pendred: Relentless Pressure

Irish MMA fans didn’t get much of Cathal Pendred on the big stage, as the Boston-born fighter to Irish immigrant parents spent just two years under the UFC banner. However, as a former Cage Contender and Cage Warriors champion, he debuted on TUF before claiming four straight wins as a UFC welterweight.

No Drama, Just a Solid Grinder

Pendred wasn’t flashy and avoided in-cage theatrics, which might have dented his stock somewhat. Relentless pressure and excellent cardio saw him claim a 17-4-1 record, and although he suffered back-to-back defeats in 2015, many were surprised when he announced his retirement at just 29 years old.

Where is Pendred now? Well, he’s been involved in several films and television shows, including Magnum P.I. Most recently, he received a master’s degree from Dublin City University, proving that life after fighting does exist.

4. Joe Duffy: The McGregor Affect

Before debuting for the UFC and becoming a global superstar, Conor McGregor had two losses on his pro record, one of which was Joseph ‘Irish’ Duffy. This made perfect tabloid cannon fodder when Dana White acquired the Cage Warriors standout in 2015.

Close, But no Cigar

Duffy made an excellent start to life as a UFC lightweight. He debuted with a round-one knockout over Jake Lindsey and collected a 4-1 record over the next two years. Sadly, running it back with McGregor in an all-Irish battle like many of us hoped for didn’t surface, and a three-fight losing streak between 2017 and 2020 put a stamp on his career, yet one which MMA purists won’t forget.

5. Norman Parke: What If

Is ‘Stormin’ Norman Parke the most accomplished UFC fighter from Ireland outside McGregor? Possibly… Winning The Ultimate Fighter tournament in 2012 made a good case for this argument, despite ending his UFC tenure with a 5-3-1.

You can’t help but think ‘what if’ regarding Parke… Two incredibly close split decision losses against Francisco Trinaldo and Gleison Tibau, should they have favored the Irishman, we would’ve witnessed a dramatically different trajectory.

Success Outside of the UFC

Life in the UFC might have ended for Parke in 2016, but his Irish fighting spirit couldn’t be tamed. He continues to fight worldwide from BAMMA, KSW, and Brave CF and has even dabbled in boxing. What’s most interesting is that he’s gone from light to light heavyweight, and he’s won seven straight fights across multiple promotions and 17 of his 20 combat sports bouts since departing from the UFC.

6. Patrick Holohan: The Hooligan!

Irish MMA fighter Patrick Holohan sat alongside McGregor at SBG Ireland during his teammate’s rise. Despite winning three of his first four fights for the UFC, he sadly didn’t get to rise to MMA superstardom. Not to his fault, however, as a rare blood disease forced Paddy to retire years ahead of his time.

A Real Hooligan

His career in the UFC was short, but when coupled with his tenure in the regional scene, MMA diehards will always remember Paddy for truly living up to his nickname, ‘The Hooligan.’ There was rarely a dull moment when he entered the cage, and with a slick ability to snatch submissions, he’ll long be recognized for his contributions to Irish MMA.

Honorable Mentions

It wouldn’t be right to conclude our list of Ireland’s most recognizable fighters without mentioning the following athletes:

• Shauna Bannon: Bannon is the newest Irish-born MMA athlete to be added to the UFC roster. She currently competes as a women’s strawweight (6-1 pro record, 1-1 UFC).
• Caolan Loughran: He hasn’t had the best start to his UFC career, but at just 28 years old, the former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion still has a lot to give to the sport (9-2-0 pro record, 1-2 UFC).
• Neil Seery: As the second-ever true Irishman to compete in the UFC, we must pay homage to Neil Seery, whose final UFC appearance was a defeat to the current flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (16-12 pro record, 3-4 UFC).
• Tom Egan: Paving the way for Irish MMA, despite losing his only appearance, Egan was the first Irish fighter to compete under the UFC banner (7-4 pro record, 0-1 UFC).
• Aisling Daly: Health complications cut Aisling Daly’s MMA career short, but she’ll forever be remembered as the first women’s Irish star to fight for the UFC (16-6-0 pro record, 2-1 UFC).

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