Conor McGregor: Notorious is a big production feature-length documentary coming out of Universal Studios. Filmed over a four year period, the audience gets an intimate access all areas experience. A notable point is that McGregor was the executive producer of this film, which would make you think it will be one-sided. However, this is remarkably well balanced and reveals a different side to the man behind the hype.
Now, McGregor is one of the biggest names in MMA and his epic rise to the top is legendary. His talent for self-promotion and over the top showmanship has generated lots of criticism. But behind all the hot air and bluster there is a tale of hard work and dedication. Conor was raised in a working-class family and his father pushed him into an apprenticeship in plumbing. This hard start was possibly the biggest driver for Conor to get a better life.
It is fair to say, any fan of McGregor will have already seen most of the footage. But where the documentary does succeed is by providing a view of the darker moments. Behind the scene views of how devastating a loss is to him, the team and his close family. The honest views of his life before fame, but also how he handles the pressures away from the promotional scenes.
All in all, I would not say that this is the best sports documentary I have ever seen. It should be said that if you do not like the sight of blood you should not watch this, there is lots of brutal footage of the fights. Yet, this documentary is well worth a watch as it blasts along at a wild pace. Love him or hate him, one thing is for sure you do get to see another side to the person – a better one.
Update: Conor McGregor is no longer available on Netflix as of July 1st 2019. However, it is available to purchase on Amazon Prime.
