Conor McGregor bumps into U2 guitarist The Edge as Irish UFC star flies home for Christmas with his family in Dublin

There are few people more famous than Conor McGregor in Ireland at the moment, but the UFC's new featherweight champion might have met his match when he bumped into U2 guitarist The Edge.

The Notorious was flying back to Ireland just nine days after his sensational knockout of Jose Aldo at UFC 194 in Las Vegas, and the legendary Irish musician appears to have been on the same flight.

McGregor posted a picture of himself and the rock royalty with clenched fists in front of a plane, captioned: 'Flying home for Christmas and bump into @U2's The Edge #ItsABeautifulDay'.

Conor McGregor (right) poses with U2 guitarist The Edge as the UFC star flies home for Christmas in Ireland

McGregor won the UFC featherweight title in Las Vegas on December 12 by beating Brazilian Jose Aldo

McGregor knocked out Aldo in just 13 seconds despite Aldo having not lost a fight in 10 years

McGregor and The Edge both grew up in Dublin and are currently two of Ireland's biggest stars

Both McGregor and The Edge, real name David Howell Evans, grew up around Dublin and the 27-year-old mixed martial artist is clearly a fan - asking the world-renowned rockers to watch his fight earlier this month.

'It'll be a 'Beautiful Day' Saturday when I unify my belt for Ireland. Will my fellow countrymen @U2 be watching,' McGregor posted on Twitter before the contest.

'The craic will be had in Las Vegas on Saturday. Rise Conor Rise,' the band replied.

McGregor was returning to Ireland from California where according to his Instagram account he has been spending some of his winnings, after breaking the UFC's gate record at the MGM Grand, on Christmas shopping.

McGregor said he was looking forward to going home to build a Christmas tree with girlfriend Dee Devlin

The Irishman said he would decide who to fight next while enjoying some time off over Christmas

Speaking after his UFC 194 victory, the 27-year-old said he was looking forward to having a rare holiday over Christmas and spending some time with his girlfriend Dee Devlin and the rest of his family.

'It's Christmas, I'm thinking right now - Christmas,' McGregor said. 'In the fight game when you travel around for so long, Christmas is taken from you many times but this time Christmas is not taken from me so I get to go home.

'I've put in a hell of a lot of work this year, it's been a crazy, crazy year for me so I'm looking forward to going home, building a Christmas tree with my girlfriend, spending time with my family, eating some good, good food and let the plan form.'

McGregor has plenty of options for his next fight, with UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos and featherweight No 1 contender Frankie Edgar just two of the fighters waiting in the wings.