Dubliner Craig Rankin owes mixed martial arts a lot.

Rankin, who has spina bifida, had a chance encounter with Conor McGregor in a Dublin restaurant in 2015 and little did he know then when McGregor approached him to ask if he would like a photograph, just how much his life was about to change. Rankin, whose condition required him to be in wheelchair, was invited to begin training in the SBG Ireland HQ — and he credits this with changing the course of his life.

Subscribers to Rankin’s social media channels will no doubt have seen clips of the 25-year-old on the rower in the gym’s workout area, with one such video showing him being directly coached by McGregor, or working on the various weight machines in the facility. He also began his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training shortly thereafter.

That isn’t where it would stop, though. Craig had sourced a new cast to fit to his leg but with the finding for it now available under the terms of the HSE, he found himself at a loose end — that was until a message found its way into his inbox.

My pleasure Craig! We got your back at SBG ❤️

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 7, 2020

 

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The plan for the next 3 weeks with @built_tolast_fitness is to strengthen up my legs in order to take part and complete the #darknessintolight walk without the aid of my wheelchair only yesterday it was time to do 3000 metres with a difference I had @thenotoriousmma backing me all the way he didn’t have to give me his time or kind word’s but he did out of pure kindness❤ he showed me some things with the @conormcgregorfast program and I did 3,500 on one leg it was hard it was tough but with his help and motivation I got through it. @coach_kavanagh gave me the opportunity 3 years ago and since then I’ve gone from strength to strength in life and martial arts it’s given me confidence and self belief and with @thenotoriousmma telling you you’re doing a good job it can only make you feel good. I’m blessed to have come this far and I aim to keep on improving with my coaches @built_tolast_fitness @coach_kavanagh and every person at @sbgireland now I keep moving forward to the next challenge which is a 5k walk I’m gonna smash with the amazing people around me. 🔥 This Is SBG I Will Always Be Okay. 💜 #darknessintolight #conormcgregor #motivation #UFC #disabledandproud #Stronger #MacgreorFastProgram #Proud

A post shared by Craig Rankin (@cr_sbg_11) on Apr 26, 2018 at 3:54am PDT

As he explained on social media:

“Last May I had a meltdown as the funding wasn’t available at that time to build the cast I wear. I shared it on social media. Everyone was great to me,” Craig wrote.

“However the next day a member from Team McGregor, Julian Dalby, reached out and said Conor would like to help me. To explain briefly the cast I require to get the best from isn’t available from the HSE (Health Service Executive) for various reasons, so to have someone say they’d be willing to take care of it for is you huge. I’ll be forever grateful to you Conor McGregor.

“I just got fitted for my new cast. I’m looking forward to getting my new state-of-the-art carbon fibre caliber in six weeks time, just like to say a big thank you to Conor, Julian and the rest of the team who were very helpful in getting this all sorted for me.”

Craig says that the new cast will allow him further mobility when it comes to walking and training. And the results will be evident in the gym.

The Mac Life has previously profiled Craig on our YouTube channel, you can see that video below.

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