MMA icon Conor McGregor has never been shy about his opinions, and for a long time, his opinion on alc*hol-free beer was simple: don’t bother. But appearing on the Full Send Podcast ahead of UFC 329, the former two-division champion revealed that his relationship with zero-percent beer has done a complete reversal.
When asked directly whether he was still drinking, McGregor was straightforward.
“I’m not,” he said. “I have Forged Irish Stout 00. I actually like the 00s. Originally, I thought it was an abomination to mess with it. But it’s actually delicious and it scratches the itch. And that’s what I’m doing.”
The admission came as part of a conversation about McGregor’s transformation leading into his return to the octagon. After nearly five years away from competition, the Irishman spoke about prioritizing his health and mental focus above everything else.
“I prioritize my health,” he said. “And there’s no better feeling when you exercise, eat good, sleep well.”
For someone who became as recognizable for his lifestyle outside the cage as inside it, this version of McGregor is a notable departure.
He spoke openly about his faith, saying, “It’s no longer I who lives, it is Christ who lives in me.”
McGregor added that he knows his toughest test comes after the match, when the cameras are still rolling.
“Will I be at the after party? I’ll be around. Will I be drinking? No.”
The zero-percent stout gives him something to reach for in social settings without breaking from the discipline he has committed to. It is a practical solution that he resisted for a long time before coming around.
McGregor closed the topic with a line that captures where his head is at right now.
“I ain’t getting caught up again. I’m not getting caught up again. I’m not disgracing the position I’ve been put in.”
