Conor McGregor stops Jose Aldo in 13 seconds
Aldo had not lost a fight since November 2005
After headlining his first UFC show in July 2014 with a win over Diego Brandao, (The Notorious) Conor McGregor delighted his hometown fans in Dublin by saying: "We're not here to take part, we're here to take over."
On Saturday night, the 27-year-old Irishman successfully completed his hostile takeover of Jose Aldo's UFC featherweight title.
With his golden tongue and slick fighting skills, McGregor was already a bona fide MMA star with flashy cars and stylish suits. Now he is an undisputed champion, with an eye to collecting more titles.
McGregor dethroned Aldo at UFC 194 in sensational fashion, toppling the sport's pound-for-pound king in just 13 seconds. Aldo had not lost in 10 years and was riding an 18-fight win streak.
Barring a comeback, the Brazilian's career may now be summed up in a Vine.
Aldo (25-2) missed with a right and McGregor floored him with a left, adding a pair of hammer-fists before referee John McCarthy stepped in before a crowd of 16,516 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
McGregor (19-2) even called the winning shot during fight week.
"I said he'd overload on his right hand," he recalled. "I'd said I'd slip and bang the left hook. That's what happened."
McGregor, who had spent months talking smack about Aldo, admitted to feeling for the longtime 145-pound champion in the wake of the stunning win.
"You don't want to see the only [featherweight] champion in the company's history going out like this," McGregor said. "So I had a little moment when I felt sorry for Jose."
"I respect Jose," he added. "I wish him well, but now we're to the next chapter."
McGregor, who has only gone the distance once in 21 fights, offers a combination of power and precision. His movement is silky smooth.
It was the fastest finish in UFC championship history. The previous record in a UFC world title fight was Ronda Rousey's 14-second submission of Cat Zingano in February.
McGregor's fastest win came in 2011, when he dispatched Paddy Doherty in just four seconds.
"With these small gloves and the correct amount of force and the correct amount of timing, the human chin can't take it," McGregor said.
Tough decision for McGregor
The UFC laid out two possible scenarios for McGregor. He can stay at featherweight and make his first title defence against Frankie (The Answer) Edgar. Or he can vacate the 145-pound championship and move up to lightweight to fight for the 155-pound crown.
"I enjoy options," said McGregor, who held both titles in England's Cage Warriors promotion prior to joining the UFC.
But while acknowledging making 145 pounds was tough, he rejected the idea of giving up one belt to fight for another.
UFC lightweights say McGregor will get hurt if he moves into their neighbourhood. McGregor says the division needs him more than he needs them.
"I'm confident going forward that nobody can take what I bring," he warned.
And McGregor says whatever he does, it will sell tickets and pay-per-views.
"I'm bringing these big numbers and the sky's the limit."
Saturday's gate was $10.1 million US with UFC officials predicting one of the promotion's biggest, if not the biggest, pay-per-view audience.
For the UFC, McGregor is manna from heaven at a time when Rousey is licking her wounds after losing her bantamweight title and former light-heavyweight champion Jon (Bones) Jones is on the comeback trail after being derailed by legal issues.
On Saturday, after newly crowned middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and other winners had met the media, McGregor came out to hold his own news conference. UFC president Dana White did not attend the post-fight event. But he didn't need to, with McGregor comfortably holding court alone.