“The Notorious” Conor McGregor furthered his legacy at the historic UFC 205 last night, doing something nobody has done in the history of the UFC. McGregor, the UFC Featherweight champion, defeated Eddie Alvarez by second round knockout to win the UFC Lightweight belt. A fighter has never held two belts at the same time, and last night in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden crowd, Conor did what he swore to do three years ago.
It was Conor’s fight since the beginning, dominating Alvarez like he has done to his opponents so many times before. He was in control for 51 seconds in the first round, compared to Alvarez’s 3 seconds, and knocked him down two times. He landed 20 strikes to Alvarez’s six, and the first round without a doubt went to the Dublin native.
The second round brought more of the same, as McGregor out struck Alvarez 20 to six, one of which was the finishing blow. While Alvarez held more control in the second, he caught a left hook from Conor and was sent plummeting to the mat, where Conor pounced on him to finish the fight. Big John McCarthy called the fight over, and McGregor leaped onto the side of the octagon, making history.
[embedit snippet=”Ryne ads”]
UFC 205 was historic not only because of its outcome but on a much larger scale. Saturday night’s fights were held in the most famous arena in the world, Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the first time the UFC has come to New York, as it had been illegal in the state for years. Fans of UFC did not disappoint, as tickets to the event quickly sold out.
Both the preliminary and main cards were packed with fights that had fight-of-the-night worthy matchups, and they did not disappoint. The main card featured three title fights; McGregor vs Alvarez, Tyron Woodley vs Stephen Thompson, and Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Jedrzejczyk retained her belt, as did Woodley in an instant classic that ended in a draw, but it was McGregor who brought home performance of the night honors.
After the fight, McGregor was interviewed by Joe Rogan, where the outspoken Irishman delivered a classic speech, even by his standards. “I’ve ridiculed everyone on the roster. I just want to say from the bottom of me heart. I’d just like to take this time to apologize….to absolutely nobody!” he said. “The double-champ does what the [expletive] he wants!”
He also stated that he wants a share of the UFC. “I want what I deserved, what I’ve earned,” Conor said. Conor is already the highest paid athlete in the sport but he’s looking forward with a more businessman-view, influenced by his impending fatherhood. The UFC has been undergoing changes to its ownership, with many people holding a stake in the company. Conor feels that if they want him to truly be in on this company, then he needs to be all in, as that is what it means to own a stake in a company.
Conor McGregor wants to be set for life, and he believes he has done enough for the UFC to be given what he feels he deserves. “I’ve got a family on the way, I’ve got a kid on the way, and I’m coming for mine now.”