Former UFC champion Conor McGregor is back in the news while recovering from knee surgery following an injury sustained against Max Holloway at UFC 329. The 38-year-old fighter recently posted a self-recorded video on Instagram showing his post-surgery routine, but a clip of him struggling on crutches while attempting to grab his MAC Energy drink, delivered by drone, stole the spotlight online.
Drone energy drink delivery sparks social media reactions to Conor McGregor
The floating drone carrying the drink stayed just past McGregor’s reach over a balcony. He eventually dropped a crutch and used it to pull the dangling can closer. Viewers on social media immediately turned the awkward moment into viral comedy, comparing the airborne delivery to a classic Turkish ice cream trick in which the vendor teases the buyer.One X user joked, “The drone operator was one of those Turkish ice cream men.” Another added, “Is the drone operator just f*cking with him? Why would he not bring it closer to him when he’s clearly struggling to grab it?”Others wondered if the drone operator was taking unnecessary risks with a recovering athlete. One reaction read, “wtf is wrong with the drone, like is the operator hoping McGregor might fall off the balcony while reaching for the energy drink? This reminds me of WorkSafe, except it’s drone edition. Who would be liable?”Meanwhile, some fans focused purely on the product itself, with a commentator noting, “Aye, I ain’t gonna lie, those energy drinks are actually really good.” Another social media user poked fun at the daily struggle of movement after an injury, writing, “When it’s 3 am and you trynna reach the water bottle on the nightstand.”
Conor McGregor shares rehabilitation update and story behind “The Notorious ” moniker
In his Instagram update, Conor McGregor addressed his fans while wearing leg casts, showing that he chose to face the physical pain directly rather than running from it. He explained that his immediate jump into rehabilitation reflects his current mindset, giving a special shoutout to fellow fighter Dominick Cruz and other athletes who fought their way back from serious surgeries.In the video, McGregor stated: “These are my motivation here, especially the fighting boys. You, Cruz. Unstoppable, baby. My mindset is unstoppable, unbreakable.” He also lightly joked about needing to decide what to do with his hair during his downtime.The former champion previously opened up about his mental preparation during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in June 2026. He told Fallon that a fighter must remain calm, focused, and completely confident in their preparation before stepping into the Octagon, as any skipped workouts or bad habits instantly show up under the lights.When host Jimmy Fallon asked how he earned his iconic moniker, McGregor explained that it started during his early training days: “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 on the phone as ‘Trouble,’ actually.” He added that as he grew older, people began calling him “The Notorious,” which eventually stuck after he adopted Biggie Smalls’s entrance music.
