Roger Federer and Conor McGregor built their reputations in completely different sporting worlds. Federer became one of tennis’s defining champions through precision, longevity and a record-setting career, while McGregor rose through mixed martial arts with knockout power, showmanship and historic UFC achievements. Yet their names have crossed in several documented ways. Federer referred to McGregor during a widely discussed 2018 interview, both men later topped Forbes’ annual ranking of the world’s highest-paid athletes in consecutive years, and both have been seen wearing the same distinctive green-dial Rolex Daytona. Here is what actually connects them — without turning coincidences into a relationship that has not been established.
Roger Federer and Conor McGregor Quick Facts
| Fact | Roger Federer | Conor McGregor |
|---|---|---|
| Sport | Tennis | Mixed martial arts |
| Nationality | Swiss | Irish |
| Professional status | Retired from ATP competition | Listed as active by UFC |
| Major achievement | 20 Grand Slam singles titles | First simultaneous two-division UFC champion |
| Forbes highest-paid athlete | No. 1 in 2020 | No. 1 in 2021 |
| Current milestone | International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2026 | Returned to UFC competition in 2026 |
Federer finished his career with 103 tour-level titles, 1,251 singles victories and 20 Grand Slam singles championships. He spent 310 total weeks at world No. 1, including a record 237 consecutive weeks.
McGregor became the first UFC fighter to simultaneously hold championships in two divisions when he defeated Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title in 2016 while already holding the featherweight belt.
What Did Roger Federer Say About Conor McGregor?
The clearest direct connection between Roger Federer and Conor McGregor came in 2018.
Federer was discussing Serena Williams’ confrontation with chair umpire Carlos Ramos during that year’s US Open final. While considering standards of behavior across sports, Federer described tennis as generally well behaved and referred to McGregor as an example of the much more confrontational incidents seen elsewhere in professional sport.
Federer mentioned seeing “the UFC guy” involved in throwing a railing, a reference associated with McGregor’s conduct that year.
The comment was not part of a personal dispute between the two athletes. Federer was primarily discussing tennis etiquette, Williams’ US Open controversy and the wider differences in behavior between sports.
That distinction matters because later stories have sometimes framed the remark as though Federer specifically launched an attack on McGregor. The original context was broader: Federer was comparing conduct in professional tennis with incidents from other sports.
Federer and McGregor Both Became the World’s Highest-Paid Athlete
Their strongest statistical connection comes from the business side of sport.
Federer topped Forbes’ ranking of the world’s highest-paid athletes in 2020. Forbes estimated that he earned $106.3 million during its measurement period, including approximately $100 million from endorsements and appearance fees. It was the first time a tennis player had occupied the top position since Forbes began the ranking.
One year later, McGregor took the No. 1 position.
Forbes calculated McGregor’s 2021 earnings at $180 million, with a large portion connected to the sale of his majority stake in Proper No. Twelve whiskey. Forbes also estimated that $158 million of his total came from outside fighting.
How Their No. 1 Earnings Years Compared
| Category | Roger Federer, 2020 | Conor McGregor, 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Forbes estimated total earnings | $106.3 million | $180 million |
| Main source outside sport | Endorsements and appearance fees | Business proceeds and endorsements |
| Sporting earnings reported by Forbes | $6.3 million | $22 million |
| Ranking | No. 1 | No. 1 |
These figures describe annual estimated earnings, not personal net worth. Net-worth figures published by celebrity websites frequently rely on assumptions about private assets, taxes, investments and liabilities, so they should not be confused with Forbes’ period-specific earnings estimates.
The comparison also shows two different models of athlete wealth. Federer’s 2020 total rested heavily on a long-established sponsorship portfolio, while McGregor’s 2021 figure was boosted significantly by a major business transaction.
The Rolex Connection Between Federer and McGregor
There is another, more unusual overlap: luxury watches.
Federer has a longstanding relationship with Rolex. Rolex states that its partnership with the Swiss champion began in 2001, and he remains part of the brand’s family of sporting figures.
McGregor is also a well-known luxury-watch collector, although his ownership of Rolex watches should not be confused with Federer’s formal ambassador relationship.
Most interestingly, both athletes have been photographed wearing the 18-karat yellow-gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with a green dial. The South China Morning Post identified Federer and McGregor among prominent owners of the distinctive model, alongside collectors including John Mayer and Drake.
It is a small connection compared with their sporting achievements, but it helps explain why the two names occasionally appear together in watch and celebrity-lifestyle coverage.
Their Sporting Careers Could Hardly Be More Different
Federer’s professional career stretched across more than two decades. He turned professional in 1998, won his first Wimbledon title in 2003 and eventually collected eight Wimbledon championships among his 20 major singles titles. He completed the career Grand Slam by winning Roland Garros in 2009.
McGregor followed a much shorter and more explosive path to the top of his sport. After making his UFC debut in April 2013, he captured the featherweight championship and then defeated Alvarez at UFC 205 in 2016 to become the promotion’s first simultaneous champion in two weight classes.
He also crossed into professional boxing in 2017 for a high-profile bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr., further expanding his commercial profile beyond MMA.
Their public sporting personas were likewise markedly different. Federer became closely associated with traditional tennis etiquette and a controlled competitive image. McGregor made verbal promotion, confrontational press events and spectacle central to his rise in combat sports. That contrast is precisely what gave Federer’s 2018 comparison its context.
Where Are Roger Federer and Conor McGregor Now?
Federer announced his retirement in September 2022 and played his final professional match at that year’s Laver Cup in London, partnering Rafael Nadal in doubles.
His post-playing legacy reached another milestone on August 29, 2026, when he was officially inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame alongside broadcaster Mary Carillo.
McGregor, meanwhile, returned to UFC competition in July 2026 after nearly five years away. His UFC 329 rematch with Max Holloway ended after 1 minute 9 seconds of the first round when McGregor suffered a knee injury, resulting in a TKO victory for Holloway. UFC currently lists McGregor with a professional record of 22 wins and seven losses.
Are Roger Federer and Conor McGregor Friends?
There is no well-established public record showing Federer and McGregor as close friends. Their most clearly documented personal connection remains Federer’s 2018 reference to McGregor while discussing standards of conduct in sport.
Did Roger Federer Criticize Conor McGregor?
Federer used McGregor as an example while contrasting behavior in tennis with incidents in other sports. The comment came during a broader discussion of Serena Williams’ 2018 US Open final controversy rather than a dedicated attack on McGregor.
Who Earned More in Their Forbes No. 1 Year?
McGregor’s estimated $180 million in Forbes’ 2021 measurement period was higher than Federer’s estimated $106.3 million in 2020. The sources of those earnings were different, particularly because McGregor’s total included proceeds connected with his whiskey business.
Did Federer and McGregor Wear the Same Rolex?
Yes. Both have been photographed wearing the yellow-gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with its distinctive green dial. Federer also has an official long-term relationship with Rolex.
Did Roger Federer and Conor McGregor Ever Compete Against Each Other?
No. They competed in entirely different sports: Federer in professional tennis and McGregor primarily in mixed martial arts, with one professional boxing appearance against Floyd Mayweather.
Is Roger Federer Still Playing and Is Conor McGregor Still Fighting?
Federer retired from professional tennis in 2022 and entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2026. McGregor returned to UFC competition in July 2026, although his comeback bout against Max Holloway ended because of a knee injury.
Conclusion
Roger Federer and Conor McGregor are connected less by a personal relationship than by a handful of notable intersections in modern sports culture. Federer referenced McGregor while discussing athlete behavior in 2018; Federer then became Forbes’ highest-paid athlete in 2020 before McGregor took the same position in 2021. Both have also worn the same sought-after green-dial Rolex Daytona.
Their larger stories remain very different. Federer ended a 20-major tennis career before entering the Hall of Fame, while McGregor changed UFC history as its first simultaneous two-division champion and returned to competition in 2026. Together, their careers offer two contrasting examples of how sporting achievement, personal branding and commercial success can create global fame.
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