From eating photos to 13-sec KOs: McGregor's 10 most audacious moments

On Saturday night, Conor McGregor takes on US fighter Eddie Alvarez in New York’s Madison Square Garden. The bout could see the Irishman make history by becoming the first UFC two-division World Champion.

Whether he's fighting in the octagon or courting controversy between bouts, McGregor is a UFC box-office star. So why is the Irishman so 'notorious'? Here are our top 10 reasons...

1. He stole his opponent's belt right in front of him

Brazil's Jose Aldo dominated in the featherweight division and was unbeaten in his UFC career until a relatively fresh-faced Dubliner stepped onto the scene and rocked the boat.

One year after selling out Dublin’s O2 Arena, McGregor returned to Ireland on a world tour promoting his forthcoming Las Vegas UFC 189 championship fight with Aldo. McGregor wowed his fans when he grabbed the belt from under Aldo’s chin and waved it to an ecstatic Irish crowd.

2. He devoured a photograph of his opponent

Soaking up the atmosphere created by his loyal Irish fans, McGregor continued to put on a show in the lead-up to his title fight at UFC 189.

When he wasn’t psyching out Aldo by stealing his belt, he was spotted in an Irish pub in Rio De Janeiro throwing darts at images of Aldo, but not before he tore a photo of his opponent in half and clenched it in his teeth.

3. He knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to become the new World Champion

After all the build-up to the Jose Aldo bout, McGregor’s psychological warfare paid off. Months of hype and trash talk led to a fight that was over in just 13 seconds.

A left hook from McGregor floored Aldo inside the first round with the Brazilian stumbling to get back up to his feet. McGregor’s place in UFC history was cemented.

4. He stepped up two weight divisions to fight on two weeks' notice

McGregor was scheduled to fight Rafael dos Anjos in March 2016, but when the Brazilian dropped out with less than two weeks' notice, UFC president Dana White began negotiations on a fight between McGregor and lightweight contender Nate Diaz.

A row began over which weight category the fight should take place in, with McGregor previously fighting at featherweight (145 lbs) and the Californian Diaz regularly fighting in the lightweight division (155 lbs).

Instead of going back and forth, McGregor chose to fight at 170 lbs (welterweight) meaning he had to gain 12kg.

5. He humiliated Nate Diaz on television

When bad-boy of the UFC, Nate Diaz, stepped in after Dos Anjos, he and McGregor exchanged verbal and downright comedic confrontations throughout the short lead-up period to UFC 196.

When the two appeared on US television broadcasts, McGregor verbally assaulted Diaz by claiming that he couldn’t count, that he’d bury him in Las Vegas, and that McGregor’s socks were worth more than Diaz’s whole suit.

With the two talking over each other for the majority of the interviews - which essentially consisted of insults and bleeps - it eventually ended with Diaz storming out.

6. The moment he retired… for six days

Flying high in the peak of his career, McGregor decided to drop a bombshell on the world of MMA by declaring his retirement on his official Twitter account.

Coming completely out of the blue, the public were baffled with the decision. Then, over the course of a few days, Conor released a series of cryptic tweets until, just six days later, he eventually announced that he would fight once again.

7. He turned a press conference into a bottle-throwing contest

A Conor McGregor press conference is always guaranteed to offer theatrics and flamboyant one-liners, but few were expecting the chaos we saw before the Diaz-McGregor rematch at UFC 202. It was, to put it simply, chaotic.

The crowd was ducking for cover and the media were baffled as both McGregor and Diaz hurled cans and bottles at each other from opposite ends of the room.

8. He was supposed to fight Floyd Mayweather

Rumours circulated for several months that the Irishman would face unbeaten boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather. Both fighters said they’d be eager to fight each other, but the little matter of money got in the way and talk eventually died down.

It may have all been a publicity stunt, but it showcased McGregor’s brilliant persistence to go beyond what others have done in the UFC.

9. He entered the video game world

The MMA star has been on billboards all over the world, but his transition from real-life star to Call Of Duty character in the 2016 game ‘Infinite Warfare’ cemented just how big McGregor's appeal has become outside of the sport.

Big thumbs up to the game developers - they got that beard spot on!

10. His ability to destroy a man with six simple words

When you’re at the top of your game, there are going to be people who want a slice of the action. Enter Jeremy Stephens - the poor soul who tried to call out McGregor at the UFC 205 press conference.

Big move Jeremy – but McGregor effortlessly buried him with six little words: “Who the **** is that guy?”

When he became the first two-division UFC world champion?...

We’ll have to wait until 12 November to see if this one becomes a reality, but if Conor McGregor defeats Eddie Alvarez in Madison Square Garden this weekend, he will become the first fighter in the UFC to have two world titles.

Get the ‘legend’ status at the ready, because McGregor may soon change the game forever.