Conor McGregor discusses origins of ‘Notorious’ nickname on Tonight Show

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THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON -- Episode 2306 -- Pictured: (l-r) Boxer Conor McGregor during an interview with host Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 -- (Photo by: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images) Conor McGregor shared a tidbit of his origin story on a recent episode of The Tonight Show. On July 11 at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, McGregor fights for the first time since breaking his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier five years ago. He is matched up with past rival Max Holloway in a bout that takes place at 170 pounds, and win or lose, the matchup is expected to be one of the most talked-about fights of 2026 due to McGregor still being the biggest name in MMA. McGregor was asked by Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon how he earned the nickname “Notorious,” and the former two-division champion explained the organic process behind it. “It actually came because I had a habit of getting into trouble when I was younger a little bit and my coach had me saved in the phone as ‘Trouble,’ actually,” McGregor said. “Now, I was only a young guy, but you know, I was just notorious for it. That’s it.” The 37-year-old added that it is also a nod to hip-hop legend The Notorious B.I.G. McGregor has frequently used the artist’s 1997 hit song Hypnotize as part of his entrance music. “I like Biggie as well, I like the music, and that was the walkout song and it just kind of gelled together over the years and it became the Notorious,” McGregor said. Unfortunately for McGregor, his nickname took on new meaning as his fighting career progressed and his outside-of-the-cage transgressions accumulated. McGregor has been involved in numerous lawsuits over the years, with the subjects ranging from destroying a fan’s phone to punching an elderly man in a pub to a recent civil suit that saw him found liable for sexual assault for an incident that occurred in Dublin in 2018. Ahead of his comeback fight, McGregor has repeatedly preached that he is a changed man and is currently making the media rounds to rehabilitate his public image. He turned on the charm in his brief Tonight Show appearance, even giving Fallon a fighter nickname after watching him throw a few punches. “That’s not bad,” McGregor said. “How about Jimmy ‘The Slow Jammer’ Fallon?’”

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Conor McGregor shares ‘Notorious’ origin story