McGregor destroys Cerrone with 1st-round TKO at UFC 246
"The Notorious" is back.
Conor McGregor triumphantly returned in the UFC 246 main event, defeating Donald Cerrone by first-round TKO on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
The stoppage came 40 seconds into the opening frame. McGregor attacked "Cowboy" right when the bell sounded, and it didn't take long for the former UFC two-division champion to land some serious blows.
He connected with several shoulder strikes to daze Cerrone, then followed up with a head kick and flying knee. A barrage of punches from McGregor put the 36-year-old down, and referee Herb Dean promptly needed to intervene.
With the win, McGregor is the first fighter in UFC history to hold a knockout victory at featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
McGregor hadn't competed in the Octagon since UFC 229 in October 2018, when lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated him. Before Saturday, the Irishman's last victory came way back in November 2016.
The loss extends Cerrone's skid to three straight defeats. He entered the McGregor bout coming off TKO losses to Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje.
Cerrone is one of the most accomplished fighters in UFC history who hasn't won a championship. He holds the records for most fights, wins, and finishes.
McGregor, the UFC's most popular fighter ever, plans to fight at least twice more in 2020. He's targeting a rematch versus Nurmagomedov, and tilts against UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and BMF titleholder Jorge Masvidal.