Conor McGregor has shown respect to Donald Cerrone from the build up to their welterweight fight up to the conclusion of the UFC 246 card.
The two fan-favourites starred in the Las Vegas show last weekend as the UFC kicked off the new year on a high note.
The Irishman, though, closed the show early as he finished the MMA veteran just 40 seconds into the opening round using shoulder strikes, a head kick, and ground-and-pound.
With the win, McGregor became the only fighter in the UFC to hold a knockout win across the featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight classes.
Right after the finish, he went straight to ‘Cowboy’ to check the damage brought by his phenomenal shoulder strikes.
“I love you Donald,” McGregor told his bloodied opponent.
“Those shoulder shots broke it, eh?” referring to Cerrone’s fractured nose.
This moment was captured in the UFC 246’s The Thrill and The Agony video, which provided some of the best scenes from the recently-concluded pay-per-view event.
See it below:
March Return
While the UFC is looking to book the rematch between McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov next, the Irish star said he doesn’t want to wait longer as he eyes to return this March.
“I don’t think the who matters,” McGregor told reporters, (via MMA Fighting).
“Okay, the lightweight title will be there. That will be there. You see the difference in the physique, the preparation and that.”
“That will come back around, that shot. I’m certainly not gonna – if [Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson] does go ahead – sit out and wait and then wait through holidays and injuries and all this type of thing that goes with it.”
“The who doesn’t matter for me now. I’m looking at dates now and I know March was there.”
“I’m gonna have a look at the calendar and see where we’re at.”
Ready
The lightweight champion is set to defend his title on April as he headlines UFC 249 against Tony Ferguson in what could be the biggest MMA fight of 2020.
If one of the fighters could not make it to the title bout, McGregor said he is ready to step in as a late replacement.
“Look, it is what it is. I make no promises. I am who I am and it is what it is.”
“I’ll certainly be focused on the skillsets. We have a particular skillset, myself and that man.”
“He holds onto the legs and I come for it. I’ll be excited to get that one back. So we’ll see what happens.”
“We’ll see what happens in the Tony fight. Tony’s another interesting foe for me. We’ll see what happens.”
“If something happens, I’ll be here.”
(Featured Image Source: YouTube/ The Mac Life and UFC)