Conor McGregor offered surprising selections as the Irish superstar revealed his five greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters of all time.

McGregor, who made his MMA debut in 2008 and went on to become a two-weight UFC champion, opted for several blasts from the past instead of more modern names.

During a livestream held by online gaming site Duelbits, McGregor responded to several questions from fans, one of which was to name his five greatest MMA stars ever.

‘Rickson Gracie, Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Chuck Liddell… how many is that,’ McGregor said.

‘Three? Four? The OGs… Bas Rutten. Bas Rutten, yeah. Europe’s own. Europe’s first is Bas Rutten. What a man Bas Rutten is.

Conor McGregor named his top five MMA fighters of all time in a video for Duelbits

Chuck Liddell made the cut, with ‘The Iceman’ one of the UFC’s first-ever superstars

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Bas Rutten was another who made McGregor’s list

‘Serious shape he’s in now. Bas, I’m right behind you, bro. I see you, Bas. I see you, Bas. I’m right behind you.’

It isn’t outlandish to say all five of McGregor’s picks played a pioneering role in helping MMA become the mainstream sport it is today.

Shamrock and Royce Gracie both fought in the first-ever UFC event in November 1993, with Gracie submitting the American in the semi-finals.

Rickson Gracie never lost an MMA or jiu-jitsu bout in his 20 years of competing, while Chuck Liddell is widely regarded as one of the UFC’s first superstars in modern history.

As for Rutten, he became the UFC’s light heavyweight champion in May 1999 but was unable to defend his title due to a knee injury.

It is also slightly surprising McGregor opted to leave himself off the list.

Never one to shy away from the spotlight, McGregor has been involved in eight of the UFC’s best-selling pay-per-view (PPV) events.

The Irishman was also ringside for Daniel Dubois’ stunning knockout victory over Anthony Joshua at Wembley last Saturday.

McGregor was a constant presence at Anthony Joshua’s fight against Daniel Dubois

The 36-year-old sat ringside next to his partner Dee Devlin as he took in the action at Wembley

McGregor had an unlit cigar in his mouth for most of the evening last Saturday

McGregor took in the action directly behind British heavyweight superstar Tyson Fury and leapt out of his seat when Dubois floored Joshua for a fourth and final time.

He sat next to his partner Dee Devlin and had an unlit cigar in his mouth for the fights.

McGregor also gave an update at Wembley on when fans can expect to see him return to the octagon.

‘It will be 2025. We will see,’ McGregor told DAZN.

My opponent that I had scheduled… it is what it is. I take it on board and rock on.

‘My job is to go to the gym and be in shape. Whenever it is and wherever it is. I will be 100 per cent ready. I must get two fights in 2025. It’s the promised land.

‘Who knows (who the next opponent will be). It does not matter. Whoever, let’s see. I like it to be Chandler. I wish him well and see where it goes.’