Roger Federer and Conor McGregor are not known to have a substantial personal or professional relationship. Their clearest documented connection comes from a 2018 interview in which Federer discussed standards of conduct in sport and referred to “the UFC guy”; contemporary reports from Business Insider and Sky Sports identified that reference as McGregor.
That distinction matters. Federer did not use McGregor’s name in the reproduced quotation, and there is no public confirmation of a close friendship, business partnership or ongoing rivalry between the two men. What exists instead is a brief public reference, followed by an interesting commercial parallel: Federer and McGregor topped Forbes’ annual highest-paid-athlete rankings in consecutive years.
What Roger Federer actually said about Conor McGregor
Federer’s comment came in November 2018, during a wider discussion about Serena Williams, the US Open final and standards of behaviour in tennis.
Business Insider’s account of the interview quotes Federer saying: “We do so well in tennis; our sport is so well behaved.” He then added: “You see the UFC guy throw a railing,” before contrasting that behaviour with conduct in other sports. Business Insider identified the “UFC guy” as Conor McGregor.
That wording is more measured than some later headlines suggested. Federer was using McGregor as an example in a broader comparison between sports. The available record does not support describing the exchange as a feud, a personal attack or a sustained criticism of McGregor.
What incident was Federer referring to?
Federer’s comment appears to refer to the April 2018 disturbance at Barclays Center in Brooklyn before UFC 223.
UFC said at the time that McGregor and others entered the building’s loading-dock area and damaged a vehicle carrying fighters. Contemporary reporting described more than one object being involved. Business Insider reported footage of guard rails being thrown and a bus window being smashed, while other reporting described a barricade and a hand dolly.
That context matters because some later articles reduced the episode to McGregor throwing only a dolly and treated Federer’s use of “railing” as an error. Contemporary coverage does not support that simple correction.
The incident explains Federer’s reference, but it should not be allowed to take over the article. His point was about sporting conduct, not an attempt to retell McGregor’s legal history.
Are Roger Federer and Conor McGregor friends?
There is no public confirmation of a close friendship between Federer and McGregor.
There is also no established business partnership, regular collaboration or documented sporting rivalry between them. Equally, it would be too strong to claim they have never met or do not know each other at all. The public record simply does not establish a substantial relationship.
That makes the 2018 comment the most meaningful direct connection between their names.
Federer: a career built around tennis records
Federer’s relevance does not depend on the McGregor reference. He retired as one of the most decorated players in men’s tennis.
According to Roger Federer’s official website, he ended a 24-year professional career at the Laver Cup in 2022 after winning 20 Grand Slam singles championships and 103 singles titles.
His career stretched across several eras of men’s tennis and included long periods at world No. 1, major rivalries with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, and sustained success across all four Grand Slam tournaments. His 2009 French Open victory completed the career Grand Slam.
Federer’s final professional appearance came at the 2022 Laver Cup. Four years later, he received another formal honour when the International Tennis Hall of Fame inducted him on 29 August 2026 in Newport, Rhode Island.
By September 2026, Federer was speaking publicly from a clearly post-playing position, reflecting on his career and Hall of Fame recognition while remaining connected to tennis through events and other projects.
McGregor: the UFC’s first simultaneous two-division champion
McGregor’s career followed a very different sporting path.
The Dublin-born mixed martial artist joined the UFC in 2013 and became one of the promotion’s most prominent fighters. His defining championship achievement came on 12 November 2016, when he defeated Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 to win the lightweight title while already holding the featherweight championship.
That made McGregor the first fighter in UFC history to hold championships in two divisions simultaneously. Contemporary Associated Press coverage described him as the promotion’s first two-class champion.
McGregor’s profile also extended beyond MMA. His 2017 boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. brought him into a different global sports market, while his UFC career included major bouts with José Aldo, Nate Diaz, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier.
The Forbes connection: consecutive years at No. 1
Federer and McGregor have another legitimate point of comparison, although it is not evidence of any relationship between them.
In 2020, Forbes ranked Federer as the world’s highest-paid athlete, estimating his pretax earnings at $106.3 million during its reporting period.
A year later, Forbes put McGregor at No. 1 with an estimated $180 million over its relevant 12-month window. Forbes attributed a large part of that figure to the sale of a majority stake in McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve whiskey business.
These figures are annual earnings estimates, not estimates of total net worth. They also cover different reporting periods, so they should not be treated as a direct like-for-like measure of personal wealth.
Still, the sequence is notable: Federer led Forbes’ list in 2020, and McGregor led it in 2021.
Where Roger Federer is now
As of 2 October 2026, Federer remains retired from professional tennis.
His official website says he continues to be involved in tennis while also working on off-court projects and philanthropy through the Roger Federer Foundation.
His Hall of Fame induction in August 2026 gave his post-playing career another formal milestone. A month later, in a Laver Cup interview, he was speaking about his career from the perspective of a retired champion rather than someone planning a comeback.
There is no indication that Federer is returning to professional competition.
Where Conor McGregor is now
McGregor’s status is more fluid.
He returned to UFC competition on 11 July 2026 after roughly five years away, facing Max Holloway at UFC 329. The bout ended after 1 minute 9 seconds when McGregor suffered a knee injury.
On 19 July, the Associated Press reported that McGregor said he had torn his right ACL, damaged his meniscus and undergone surgery.
McGregor also said he hoped to return in 2027. That should be treated as his stated ambition rather than a confirmed fight date. As of 2 October 2026, no official next bout had been established in the material available for this profile.
So what really connects Federer and McGregor?
The answer is narrower than some search results make it appear.
Federer publicly referred to McGregor in 2018 while discussing behaviour in professional sport. Years later, the two also happened to lead Forbes’ annual highest-paid-athlete rankings in consecutive editions.
Beyond those points, there is no public confirmation of a close friendship, business partnership or continuing rivalry. Federer belongs to the post-career stage of one of tennis’s most successful careers, while McGregor remained listed as an active UFC fighter in October 2026 as he recovered from his latest injury.
Their names make an interesting comparison, but the documented connection between them is limited and specific.
