‘The Notorious’ is back.
Conor McGregor kicked off the year on a high note as he demolished Donald Cerrone in their main event clash at UFC 246 at the T-mobile Arena, Saturday night.
The Irish star just returned from more than a year of fighting hiatus and took care of business in Las Vegas, Nevada.
What expected as barnburner fight turned into a short affair as McGregor finished the mixed martial arts veteran just 40 seconds into the opening round.
The victory marks McGregor’s first MMA win in three years and more importantly, it could set him up to another titanic clash at 170 pounds such as against Jorge Masvidal for the ‘BMF’ title or Kamaru Usman for the welterweight championship.
“I like this weight division, I feel really good… I’ve definitely got work to do to get back where I was,” he said in the post-fight interview.
Check out some of the craziest reactions from the Twitter-verse on McGregor’s 40-second knockout victory against Cerrone:
https://twitter.com/Justin_Gaethje/status/1218767847582683137
For the first time in UFC history the company has handed out FIVE “Performance of the Night” awards: McGregor, Oleinik, Kelleher, Ferreira and Dober each get an extra $50k.
It’s true what they say: When @TheNotoriousMMA fights, all tides rise.
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) January 19, 2020
The #ConorMcGregor brand – his authenticity to who he is & where he comes from – is the reason he’s built the support & fan base he has.
Never underestimate the power you have as an athlete to brand yourself, even outside the field/court (in this case octagon) of play.
— Kalani Long (@Kalani_Long) January 19, 2020
I have never seen a shoulder shot like that one from Conor – actually shoulder shots. Cowboy acted like he'd never experienced one bc the most experienced UFC fighter ever just kept taking them. Just bizarre. Conor McGregor won the fight in a few seconds with his left shoulder.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 19, 2020
https://twitter.com/J_Onedagreat/status/1218777563859968000
OMFG @TheNotoriousMMA you are fuc…. genius, whats those shoulder strikes called; shoulderbombs ?
— Korto (@General_Sado) January 19, 2020
Conor McGregor easily defeats Donald Cerrone.
Bloodied his nose with shoulder strikes in the clinch, then rocked him with a head kick.
Precise ground and pound thereafter closed the show.
Notorious is back in the win column.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) January 19, 2020
Shoulder strikes?!?! Wtf! Conor McGregor is a legend!!! #UFC246 #ConorMcGregor #Cowboy
— Michael (@OfficerMikeSCPD) January 19, 2020
McGregor has just smoked Cowboy in 40 seconds. Shoulder strikes paved the way to the head pick/punches tko.
Conor looked insane#ConorMcGregor #ConorVsCowboy— Jack Kennedy (@Jackfk569) January 19, 2020
Conor McGregor puts away one of the most decorated fighters in #UFC history in 40 seconds.
Shoulder strikes to a wicked head kick followed by a barrage of left hands.#Notorious was on his game!#UFC246 pic.twitter.com/G2Ev7JU36M
— Reed Duthie (@rcduthie) January 19, 2020
How can you not respect this man! Conor McGregor is a truly special martial artist. The ferocity and the ingenuity is something unreal. Shoulder strikes ffs!! #UFC246
— Atul Shrivastava (@OG_1192) January 19, 2020
@TheNotoriousMMA just changed the clinch game forever with those shoulder strikes.. They’ve been around but I’ve never seen them used that way before. Wow #UFC246
— Sydnee B (@SydneeBmusic) January 19, 2020
What do you think of Conor McGregor’s victory on his MMA return?
(Featured Image Source: Twitter/ UFC)