15 months later, he was back in the cage as he recorded a first-round TKO win over grizzled vet Donald Cerrone – his first victory since 2016.

Although he certainly looked impressive, the 40-second showing wasn’t long enough to answer any questions about a possible decline.

Conor McGregor (left) has fallen from grace since losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019

The Irishman has not competed inside the octagon since breaking his leg at UFC 264 in 2021

At the peak of his powers, McGregor was the UFC’s pound for pound No 1 fighter and a simultaneous two-weight world champion

His next bout against Dustin Poirier would serve as a better yardstick for where he was at as he approached his mid-thirties.

When the pair first locked horns back in 2014 McGregor cruised past Poirier with relative ease.

But when they rematched seven years later it was clear Poirier had progressed further up to this point.

McGregor had the Louisiana native on his heels early but was chopped down by debilitating calf kicks as he advanced.

The kicks quickly pilled up and took their toll. McGregor, unstable on his feet, was unable to evade a barrage of punches as he was sat down by a well-timed right uppercut.

A follow-up right hand on the ground separated him from consciousness as Poirier wheeled away, hands aloft.

In the immediate aftermath, McGregor vowed to wreak his revenge but the trilogy yielded a similar outcome.

McGregor was sent tumbling to the canvas at the end of the opening stanza and appeared to fall awkwardly on his left leg.

He was subsequently pulled out at the end of the opening round, grimacing in pain and clutching his left leg.

It was later revealed he had snapped his left tibia and fibula during the fight.

McGregor recorded a first-round TKO victory in his first fight back since the Khabib loss

This was followed up by back-to-back defeats to Dustin Poirier followed in 2021

The inconclusive nature of the defeat was frustrating but early signs suggested that the writing was already on the walls – much like it had been for McGregor’s decline as a whole.

Following his loss to Nurmagomedov, the 35-year-old was involved in a long list of indiscretions outside of the Octagon.

McGregor had never shied away from controversy in his prime years, whether it was driving violations or the infamous bus attack in 2018.

However, the devastating defeat to his fiercest rival set off a chain reaction of lawsuits, arrests and allegations.

A few months after the Khabib fight, McGregor was arrested in Miami, Florida after he attacked a fan who was taking a picture of him with a mobile phone.

CCTV footage showed McGregor lunging at the man, grabbing his device and smashing it on the ground.

He was initially charged with strong-armed robbery and criminal mischief but the charges, as well as a civil lawsuit, were dropped after an out-of-court settlement was reached.

Four months later, McGregor wound up in another public altercation when a video emerged of the MMA star punching an elderly man in the head at a pub in Dublin after he refused a shot of McGregor’s Proper Twelve whiskey.

McGregor later pleaded guilty to one count of assault in court and expressed  remorse for his actions.

‘It doesn’t matter what happened there – I was in the wrong,’ he told ESPN in August. ‘That man deserved to enjoy his time in the pub without having it end the way it did.’

Allegations of 𝑠e𝑥ual assault have also followed him around over the last few years, however, McGregor has denied them and no charges have been brought against him.

McGregor has reportedly earned £148m during his combat sports career and even more from his various businesses and sponsorship deals

McGregor is expected to return to the Octagon against Michael Chandler (right) at some point next year

His downward spiral both in and outside of the cage has prompted many to claim that the money has clouded his judgement.

MMA fighter turned analyst Dan Hardy, speaking back in 2019 after the Khabib fight, says the fact that McGregor had ‘gone off the deep end’ was no surprise given his monstrous career earnings.

‘I can’t do anything other than forgive Conor for it. I can’t imagine how I would be if I made 100 million from being on the dole,’ said Hardy.

‘Everyone who makes that kind of money falls off the deep end. Mike Tyson was buying tigers. All the people around him are from the same kind of environment and all of a sudden they have this guy who has made all this money and he’s relied on and sometimes preyed on by all these people, bad influences.’

McGregor has reportedly earned $180million (£148m) during his combat sports career and has banked even more from sponsorship deals, clothing lines and various businesses.

McGregor has had his fair share of controversies outside of the cage over the last five years

In 2021, the fighter punched an elderly man in the face after he had refused to try his whiskey

In April 2021, McGregor sold his Proper Twelve whiskey brand for £112m.

He also owns multiple high-grossing businesses including pain relief brand Tidl Sport, his own pub – the Black Forged Inn in Dublin – and his new alcoholic beverage line, Forged Irish Stout.

Having seen so many sporting greats fall after making their millions in the past it is perhaps no wonder McGregor’s combat sports career has taken a nose dive.

Yet he may have the opportunity to redeem his past performances in 2024 when he gets back to doing what he loves against Michael Chandler.