This portrait of Conor McGregor was one of the very first works I created at the beginning of my art career. At the time, I admired him deeply for his unwavering self-belief, relentless work ethic, and his ability to manifest his future success. His philosophy of chasing dreams without hesitation was a powerful source of motivation for me as a young artist.

Painted over two months, it demanded an almost obsessive focus to achieve anatomical precision – capturing every tattoo, vein, and strand of hair. It celebrates his historic victory over José Aldo in 2015, when he became the UFC’s first double champion. What struck me most, and what I sought to preserve, was not just his athletic triumph, but the emotion in his teary eyes and the proud expression as he raised the Irish flag high, symbolising both personal and national triumph.

This work remains both the first and the last of its kind. The intensity required to achieve this level of realism is something I doubt I will return to, making the portrait a rare piece in my collection. Over time, its meaning has shifted for me. McGregor’s journey – like that of many artists – reflects not only the heights of ambition but also its destructive edge. What once stood as pure inspiration has evolved into a more complex narrative: a reminder that unchecked ambition can ultimately consume the very person who wields it.

Before that fight, McGregor quoted Van Gogh: “I’ve lost my mind doing this game, but I will die a crazy old man.” In many ways, this statement foreshadowed both his triumphs and his struggles – resonating as both inspiration and caution to me, a mirror to the risk of pursuing greatness at any cost.