Conor McGregor treats chef at his restaurant to Rolex watch for his 50th birthday: 'Appreciate you'

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By James Kay

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Conor McGregor has splashed out after a chef at his restaurant turned 50, as the UFC star shared his appreciation with a Rolex watch.

McGregor is famous for his exploits in the UFC, as he quickly became not only one of the most feared men in the octagon, but his skills on the microphone are what truly set him apart.

Before fights, he would effortlessly tear down anybody who dared engage in a war of words with him, and this has earned him a lot of money over his career.

So much so, that he now owns a whisky company and a restaurant - and it looks like he treats his staff incredibly well.

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McGregor is a successful businessman as well as a fighter. Credit: Antony Jones/Getty

Ed Raethorn works at McGregor's Dublin bar, The Black Forge Inn, and he was presented with a Rolex watch by the UFC star himself to celebrate his birthday.

The presentation was showcased on McGregor's Instagram story as well as Raethorn's personal account, and it shows the entirety of the staff applauding the chef.

McGregor said while presenting the watch: "It's amazing work you do, and we're very grateful to have you here. I have a gift for you, I'm going to give it to you on your 50th birthday - you've joined the Rolex club."

When the box is opened, McGregor talks everyone through it saying it's a 40-millimeter Rolex, which he dubbed as the "real deal".

He then continued to praise the chef by saying that his "work is outstanding," before adding: "[I] appreciate you."

Watch the moment below:

McGregor then posed for pictures with Raethorn, as well as the rest of the kitchen staff as he showed his genuine appreciation for those who work at his establishment.

While the true value of the watch is unknown, a browse of the Rolex website shows that it sits above the $10,000 mark.

While it's obvious that McGregor is a down-to-earth guy who respects those who put in hard work - he isn't a stranger to controversy.

In the summer of last year, McGregor found himself at the center of controversy after an incident involving the Miami Heat mascot, Burnie.

McGregor was present at a game on June 10 to promote his brand TIDL Sport, a "plant-powered" cryotherapy spray designed to relieve pain. However, the planned stunt took an unexpected turn when Burnie confronted McGregor on the court.

The situation escalated as McGregor threw a left hook that knocked down the mascot, followed by another punch while Burnie was on the floor. McGregor then proceeded to spray the mascot with pain relief medication as Heat staff removed Burnie from the court.

Watch the incident below:

Addressing the incident on Live with Mark and Kelly on June 14, McGregor clarified that the entire episode was planned and part of a skit.

"The mascot’s good [...] It was a skit, and it went the way it went, and all is well. I spent a lot of time with him afterward; we hugged it out, and everything was great," he explained.

I wouldn't want to be on the end of a punch from McGregor, but I'd happily take a Rolex watch.

Featured image credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty