Conor McGregor did not disappoint one bit in his first fight since October 2018.
He needed just 40 seconds to dispatch of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, landing a few shoulder strikes and a head kick early to drop him for a TKO decision.
A post shared by TSN (@tsn_official) on
Now that’s how you announce to the world that you’re back.
We’re not sure what kind of expectations people had for McGregor coming into this one, but this was just an emphatic performance and it’s definitely turning heads. In his energetic post-fight Octagon interview, he yelled, “Any one of these mouthy fools can get it!”
Here’s how the sports world reacted to McGregor’s stunning win.
Welcome back Champ!! @TheNotoriousMMA. 🙏🏾💪🏾
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 19, 2020
Unreal... https://t.co/CTeoDleBcc
— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) January 19, 2020
The Notorious 👑 #legend #UFC246
— Kyle Connor (@KyleConnor18) January 19, 2020
The Champ champ 👌 @TheNotoriousMMA
— David Perron (@DP_57) January 19, 2020
Legendary @TheNotoriousMMA
— Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) January 19, 2020
WOW THAT WAS QUICK
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) January 19, 2020
He’s Baaaackkkk!!!😤💪🏽@TheNotoriousMMA
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) January 19, 2020
Allright time to announce Connor vs Khabib 2.0 now @ufc 😏
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) January 19, 2020
🇮🇪
— Ian Cole (@ICole28) January 19, 2020
Your kidding.... #McGregorVsCowboy
— Victor Mete (@vmete98) January 19, 2020
Irish bully is back
— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) January 19, 2020
After his #UFC246 win, @TheNotoriousMMA was overwhelmed with emotion pic.twitter.com/4O3GQFqe3m
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) January 19, 2020
Conor McGregor embraced Donald Cerrone's grandmother
— MMA India (@MMAIndiaShow) January 19, 2020
RESPECT !! #UFC246 pic.twitter.com/4ZCNaCW81f
Unofficial final significant striking stats:
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 19, 2020
McGregor: 19/26
Cerrone: 0/1
Pinpoint accuracy from McGregor.
Coming in, I thought I would want to see McGregor vs. Gaethje next, for the No. 1 lightweight contender spot. If McGregor won. Now, can't do it. There's only one option. It has to happen. Can't go any other way.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) January 19, 2020
Conor McGregor vs. Jorge Masvidal
McGregor: I like welterweight. I feel really good. But I came out of here unscathed. I’m in shape. We’ve got work to do to get back to where I was. Any one of these fools can get it. All of them. Every single one — it does not matter. #UFC246
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) January 19, 2020
The only time in Conor McGregor's UFC career that he finished his opponent in quicker fashion than tonight (40 seconds) was at UFC 194, when he KOed Jose Aldo in 13 seconds. pic.twitter.com/1aXyTQwK6e
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 19, 2020
THE KING!!! @TheNotoriousMMA
— TJ Watt (@_TJWatt) January 19, 2020
Can’t say I like all of his antics - to each his own - but @TheNotoriousMMA is incredible at what he does & for that I will always give respect, bc being great at anything is NEVER easy!
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) January 19, 2020
Would you fight Connor McGregor for 40 seconds for 2 million dollars? #UFC246
— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) January 19, 2020
Conner went easy those last 4 strikes on the ground. That was an unexpected show of sportsmanship. #UFC246
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) January 19, 2020
It took Jason Garrett longer to get fired by the Cowboys than it did for Conor McGregor to knock out one.
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 19, 2020
Hey, not bad @TheNotoriousMMA! I think one of our goalies (@__deals) was rooting for ya 😉!
— Blackhawk Up (@Blackhawk_Up) January 19, 2020
We’re all excited to see what you do next! #UFC246
(Video credit @Certified_TonyG, @goicehogs)
pic.twitter.com/fP0BylauNf
Yall paying $65 plus tax to watch Conor McGregor for 40 seconds. pic.twitter.com/wZmQiLxgwK
— Clark (@OprahSide) January 19, 2020
Me in the kitchen getting something to drink and hearing “It’s all over” 🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️😩 #UFC246 pic.twitter.com/l70L6oyINW
— Mario (@SkillzApex1) January 19, 2020
Well, that escalated quickly! #UFC246 pic.twitter.com/z7wkxIBvJa
— Chris Navalta (@ChrisNavalta) January 19, 2020
Man was in the ring for 40 seconds and looks like he just been hit by a bus
— Rakan (@r2_1q) January 19, 2020
#UFC246 pic.twitter.com/abpMqzHe08