Marvelous McGregor makes history in New York
Conor McGregor made light work of Eddie Alvarez, toying with the UFC lightweight champion then knocking him out inside two rounds to take the title last night.
The featherweight title-holder, McGregor, became the first fighter to hold belts in two weight divisions simultaneously at UFC 205 on the organisation’s first trip to New York City since a ban was lifted.
McGregor displayed a punch-perfect performance, teasing Alvarez and showboating before a four-punch combination ended the fight at 3:04 in the second round.
Two quick-fire counter-punches sent Alvarez down the first time, before he stumbled to the canvas again. A third more brutal knock-down followed, but McGregor remained patient.
The Irishman put his hands behind his back, taunting his overwhelmed opponent, in the second round while completely nullifying the American’s wrestling prowess. Four accurate strikes to the head from both fists closed the deal shortly after.
McGregor becomes the third fighter to hold championships in different weight classes (alongside BJ Penn and Randy Couture) but the first to wear belts at the same time, having stopped Jose Aldo to claim the featherweight title a year ago.
His dream achieved, the 28-year-old briefly fumed as UFC employees, who had strapped lightweight gold around his waist, delayed in bringing his featherweight title into the ring too.
“Where the f*** is my second belt?” he said.
“$4.2 billion this company sold for…cheap f***ers. They’re trying to take that belt off me already.”
“I have spent a lot time of time slating everyone in the company,” he added. “I have ridiculed the entire roster and I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, I want to take this opportunity to apologise…to absolutely nobody!”
