Donald Cerrone is shocked with Conor McGregor’s brilliant performance at UFC 246.
The two fan-favourites headlined the said fight card on Saturday night in front of a sold-out T-mobile Arena crowd.
Both fighters are looking to return to win column as they are coming off respective losses at 155 pounds, with Cerrone losing to Justin Gaethje at UFC Vancouver while McGregor was submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov way back October 2018.
MMA fans were expecting Cerrone to win the match if it goes the distance but McGregor had other plans.
In less than one minute, the former two-division champion destroyed the UFC veteran with vicious shoulder strikes, head kick, and a barrage of left punches to earn a first-round technical knockout win.
It was his first MMA win in three years and the second fastest win of his UFC career, next to his 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo in 2015.
Conor McGregor is back.
He finishes Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone just 40 seconds into the 1st round.
It was the 2nd-fastest win of McGregor's UFC career. pic.twitter.com/W5hCRbFQrx
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 19, 2020
Caught
Following the victory, the Irish star said he is not resting on his laurel as he is targeting big fights in the welterweight division.
“I like this weight division, it’s good going up and down, I’m in shape,” McGregor said in the post-fight interview.
“I’m not there yet, there’s work to do to get to where I was. I’ll party, celebrate, any of these fools can get it.”
“It does not matter.”
Meanwhile, Cerrone he was not seen anything like what ‘The Notorious’ has done at UFC 246.
“He caught me straight away, then kicked me … I’ve not seen anything like it. He busted my nose.”
What Cowboy Cerrone looks like after 30 seconds in the Octagon with Conor McGregor.#UFC246 pic.twitter.com/zPE6ajlWzA
— NedsAU (@NedsAus) January 19, 2020
Here are the complete results of the UFC 246 pay-per-view event (via MMA Fighting):
Main Card
Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone via first round TKO (:40)
Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington via unanimous decision
Aleksei Oleinik def. Maurice Greene via sub (armbar) (R2, 4:38)
Brian Kelleher def. Ode Osbourne via sub (guillotine) (R1, 2:49)
Diego Ferreira def. Anthony Pettis via submission (RNC) (R2, 1:46)
Undercard
Roxanne Modafferi def. Maycee Barber via UD (30-27 x2, 30-26)
Sodiq Yusuff def. Andre Fili via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Askar Askarov def. Tim Elliott via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)
Drew Dober def. Nasrat Haqparast via first-round TKO (1:10)
Aleksa Camur def. Justin Ledet via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)
Sabina Mazo def. JJ Aldrich via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1218774212552396800
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Donald Cerrone and Conor McGregor)