Conor McGregor built one of the biggest brands in combat sports history, and his nicknames played a huge part in that. Some came from his own confidence, some from coaches and rivals, and at least one came from a UFC executive trying to describe just how unusual his career path really was.
Here’s where his most well known nicknames actually came from.
The Notorious
This is easily his most famous nickname, and interestingly, there isn’t just one agreed upon origin story. One widely repeated version says a coach gave him the nickname early in his career because he had a reputation as a notorious troublemaker, and it simply stuck from there. Another account ties it to McGregor’s admiration for the rapper The Notorious B.I.G., whose music he’s walked out to before fights as a tribute. A third version connects it to the 1946 film Notorious, with McGregor reportedly feeling the word captured his brash, fearless personality. Whichever story is most accurate, the nickname became central to his entire brand, showing up in his social media handles, merchandise, and promotional material for his entire career.
Mystic Mac
McGregor gave himself this nickname after a string of eerily accurate fight predictions. His most famous prediction came before his fight with Jose Aldo, when he called a first round knockout, then delivered exactly that, finishing the fight in just thirteen seconds. The nickname stuck because he backed it up with results often enough that fans genuinely started treating his predictions as something close to real fortune telling.
The King And Champ Champ
Both of these nicknames reflect actual accomplishments rather than just branding. Champ Champ came from McGregor becoming the first fighter in UFC history to hold two championship belts across two different weight classes at the same time, a genuinely unprecedented feat when it happened in 2016. The King followed naturally from that same run of dominance, used by fans and commentators to describe his standing at the top of the sport during his peak.
Silverback
This nickname connects directly to McGregor’s training background. He has a large gorilla tattoo on his chest, representing the logo of Straight Blast Gym Ireland, the gym where he originally learned to fight. The tattoo naturally led to Silverback as a nickname, tying his physical branding to the place where his career actually began.
The Unicorn
UFC president Dana White gave McGregor this nickname, describing his willingness to fight literally anyone at any time, regardless of weight class or reputation. White meant it as a comment on how rare that kind of fearlessness actually is in the sport, comparing McGregor’s approach to something almost mythical.
Later Nicknames Including Money Mac And McJacked
As McGregor’s business ventures grew, including his Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand and other investments, fans began using nicknames like Money Mac to describe his wealth and lifestyle outside the octagon. McJacked emerged more recently, referencing his noticeably larger, more muscular physique later in his career, a physical change that drew plenty of commentary and speculation from fans and fellow fighters alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Conor McGregor’s most famous nickname?
The Notorious is by far his most recognized nickname, used consistently across his entire career in branding, merchandise, and promotion.
Where does the nickname Mystic Mac come from?
McGregor gave himself the nickname after accurately predicting the outcome and timing of several of his fights, most famously his thirteen second knockout of Jose Aldo.
Why is Conor McGregor called Champ Champ?
He became the first fighter in UFC history to hold two championship titles in two different weight classes simultaneously, earning him the nickname.
Who gave Conor McGregor the nickname The Unicorn?
UFC president Dana White coined it, describing McGregor’s rare willingness to fight anyone regardless of weight class.
What does the nickname Silverback refer to?
It connects to a large gorilla tattoo on McGregor’s chest representing Straight Blast Gym Ireland, where he began training as a fighter.
Final Thoughts
Conor McGregor’s nicknames trace the entire arc of his career, from a scrappy young fighter in Dublin nicknamed for his troublemaking reputation, through record breaking championship runs, and into his later years as a businessman and cultural figure well beyond the octagon. Few athletes have built such a recognizable identity out of nicknames, and even fewer have managed to turn nearly every one of them into an actual part of their brand.
