40 seconds: this is the time it took for former mixed martial arts retiree Conor McGregor to strike down Donald Cerrone and regain all his splendor in a UFC fight, fifteen months after his resounding defeat against Khabib Nurmagomedov.
This time, there was no general fight in and around the octagon after the demonstration of the Irishman against the American, but a lot of respect on the part of the winner towards the beaten and a howled joy which symbolized all the rage put by McGregor to succeed his bet, him that many thought finished.
"I feel so good, I am unharmed. I worked hard to get back from where I was, "said McGregor after this 22nd win in 26 fights, the first in the welterweight for the UFC featherweight and lightweight champion.
"He completely destroyed me"
Very aggressive from the start - he knew that the fight had to be short and decided to stand up to turn in his favor against an experienced fighter, very dangerous by his grip on the ground -, he benefited from a little boost, or rather knee (right) on a support which slightly shook his opponent at the temple. Then, under the eyes of a few stars including actor Matthew McConaughey, it went very, very quickly.
Well, well, well .... the KING is back !!! And I'm not surprised !!! @TheNotoriousMMA # UFC246 #ConorMcGregor pic.twitter.com/7unYpyQv6t
- Arsenio Oribio Jr (@Ar_Oribio) January 19, 2020Model of power and precision, he placed a real left knee kick in the chin, three other shoulder blows which made Cerrone move back, which then fell after a high kick, two left hooks and a flurry of other punches, forcing the referee to end the carnage.
"He completely destroyed me," agreed the American, very scarred in the face, who was fighting his 36th 50th fight (36 wins, 14 losses). Just before, McGregor had rushed to the ground to console and kiss on the front this adversary whom he had said "to respect enormously" Thursday in press conference before combat.
Redemption operation
In order to win back his audience, he appeared calm and humble, the opposite of the bad boy who long had his bad reputation as a man, but placed the fighter very high in the hearts of fans of the discipline, before his decline. Because the last three years have been those of successive failures and escapades, between the defeat in boxing against the untouchable Floyd Mayweather and that suffered in octagon against Nurmagomedov, whose woman he had insulted the woman and mocked the Muslim faith.
He has also had to report to American justice after two assaults and remains the subject of two sexual assault investigations in Ireland, according to the New York Times. The new McGregor, thanks to this victory which recalls its best times, has in any case succeeded in the first phase of its redemption operation.
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"I engrave my name once more in history, for the Irish people and for my mom there," he finally launched in a euphoric burst in mixed zone.
