A Growing Trend — UFC Fighters Finding God
McGregor is not alone in his spiritual turn.
Earlier in 2025, former UFC fighter Ben Askren shared a remarkable story: after surviving a 45-day coma during which his heart stopped four times — the result of a severe pneumonia that led to a double lung transplant — Askren said he simply woke up and knew he was a Christian.
‘I woke up and I just decided I was a Christian. So, that’s crazy,’ Askren said. ‘I went with my wife to church for 15 years because that was part of the deal. And it was really weird when I woke up, I’m like, I gotta do it.’
The pattern raises genuine questions about faith, mortality, and the unique psychological pressures that combat athletes face — questions that pastoral leaders and church communities are increasingly engaging with.
Frequently Asked Questions About Conor McGregor’s Faith
Q: Has Conor McGregor become a Christian?
McGregor has publicly declared he has been ‘saved’ and that he lives ‘by God’s Word.’ He has described spiritual experiences including a vision of the Trinity and Jesus during ibogaine treatment in November 2025. He has not formally identified with a specific denomination.
Q: When did Conor McGregor find faith?
McGregor traces his spiritual journey to around his ankle injury at UFC 264 in July 2021. He made his most explicit public declaration of faith during a BKFC press conference in Italy on October 23, 2025.
Q: What did Conor McGregor say about God?
At the October 2025 BKFC press conference, McGregor said: ‘There is a higher power — God — that dictates my journey and all of our journeys. I live my life by God’s Word. I’ve been saved. I am healed.’
Q: Is Conor McGregor still fighting in the UFC?
McGregor has been absent from the UFC since breaking his ankle in 2021. He is serving an 18-month anti-doping suspension eligible to expire in March 2026. He hopes to return for the UFC White House card on June 14, 2026.
Q: What is Conor McGregor’s religion?
McGregor was raised Roman Catholic in Ireland. As of 2025, he has described a broader personal faith in God, citing direct spiritual experiences. He has used explicitly Christian language, including references to Jesus, salvation, and healing.
