Conor McGregor was crowned interim UFC featherweight champion after defeating Chad Mendes in the main event at UFC 189.
He said he would do it, and he did – Â the 26-year-old even predicted the round he would knock him out in. Confidence incarnate.
McGregor came rushing out with an audacious flying knee from the opening bell, and was briefly put on his back before getting back to his feet.
The Irishman landed more strikes in the opening stanza, but Mendes appeared to do more damage, made known by the cut on McGregor’s face. Money scored two takedowns and finished the round on top of the Notorious on the mat.
Mendes took McGregor down again early in the second,and remained in control from the top position for nearly the entirety of the round.
Money rained down with some brutal ground and pound, but McGregor managed to slip out and unload with some huge strikes.
He eventually finished Mendes with a vicious flurry of punches, putting him down with a right-left combination that forced Herb Dean to intervene and end the bout early.
What a fight.
— Bri the F1 Guy (@BrianF1Man) July 12, 2015
