A ton of questions surrounded Conor McGregor heading into his UFC 246 main-event bout against Donald Cerrone. What did he have left after a humbling loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October 2018? How would his focus be after a series of arrests and allegations?
McGregor answered those questions definitively. He came out firing and dusted Cerrone in just 40 seconds at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
"I'm the first fighter in UFC history to secure a knockout victory at featherweight, lightweight and welterweight," McGregor said in his postfight interview. "I'm very, very happy. I'm very proud."
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McGregor (22-5) charged right at Cerrone and missed with a left hand. Undeterred, McGregor threw four hard shoulders to Cerrone's head that left Cerrone bloodied with a possible broken nose. Cerrone tried to come back with a head kick. The fight changed when McGregor dropped "Cowboy" with a head kick of his own.
McGregor knew what to do from there as he blasted Cerrone with one hard shot after another. Referee Herb Dean gave Cerrone every opportunity to defend himself, but the man who has the most wins in UFC history couldn't survive the onslaught and the fight was stopped. The UFC later informed reporters that Cerrone was headed to the hospital.
What's next for McGregor, the former two-division world champion? Will he stay at welterweight and take on BMF champion Jorge Masvidal or champion Kamaru Usman, or go back to lightweight and challenge the winner of the Nurmagomedov-Tony Ferguson fight that will take place at UFC 249 on April 18?
"I like this weight division (welterweight)," McGregor said. "I feel really good. Any one of these mouthy fools can get it."
Here is what happened at UFC 246:
Conor McGregor vs. 'Cowboy' Cerrone live results, updates
(All times Eastern)
Conor McGregor wrecks Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds
12:36 a.m.: McGregor def. Cerrone by TKO at 0:40 of the first round.
McGregor doesn't get paid by the hour. He charged right at Cerrone with four shoulder bumps to bust up Cerrone's nose. A head kick sent Cerrone to the mat. A couple ground-and-punches later and referee Herb Dean stopped it.
12:20 a.m.: It is now time for the main event of UFC 246: Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone in welterweight action. The talking is over. We are here. Can McGregor make one more run, or does Cerrone finally win the big one?
Co-main event: Holly Holm wins the rematch over Raquel Pennington
12:08 a.m.: Holm def. Pennington by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
How could a judge give Pennington a round? Holm dominated for 15 minutes and Pennington did next to nothing. Holm showed much-improved clinch work and grappling skills. Have to applaud Holm; she could just rest on our laurels and use her superb striking, but she continues to evolve in becoming a complete mixed martial arts fighter. She says she wants to regain her title, but after getting knocked out in the first round by champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 239 in July, it's hard to see her getting another crack at the gold in the near future.
Round 3: A little bit of action in the final stanza but much of the same of what we saw previously. Why Pennington kept initiating the clinch is beyond me. If you're going to lose, go out on your shield. (Holm 10-9, 30-27 Holm)
Round 2: Much more of the same as the first round. The fans voiced their frustration with a chorus of boos in different parts of the stanza. Pennington needs to figure out what to do or else she's going to lose a decision. (Holm 10-9, 20-18 Holm)
Round 1: If you are a fan of clinch, then it was fun, but if you need action, then it was lackluster. Holm showed good clinch work, grinding Pennington against the cage for a good chunk of the round. Pennington needs to find a way to get it to mat. (Holm 10-9)
11:40 p.m.: It is time for co-main event of UFC 246: No. 3-ranked Holly Holm squares off with No. 5-ranked Raquel Pennington in women's bantamweight action. Holm and Pennington fought at UFC 184 in February 2015, with Holm winning a narrow decision. Since then, Holm (12-5) has won the bantamweight title with an upset win over Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 in November 2015 but also been inconsistent, going 2-5. Pennington (10-8) fought for the title but lost to Amanda Nunes at UFC 224 in May 2018.
Who will make the proper adjustments and earn a definitive victory?
Aleksei Oleinik earns 46th career submission in defeating Maurice Greene
11:27 p.m.: Olenik def. Greene by submission (armbar) at 4:38 of the second round.
Olenik is an absolute wizard on the ground. After wearing out his arms in trying to submit Greene in the opening round, Olenik kept grinding it out and going for it in the second. He took Greene down and attempted a choke, but couldn't secure it properly. So, the "Boa Constrictor" rolled over to his belly and secured an armbar. Greene fought hard to get out. With Olenik's legs around his 235-pound frame and no way to get out, Greene tapped out.
It's quite amazing that Olenik has won 46 of 58 fights via submssion. What an accomplishment.
11:05 p.m.: Coming up at UFC 246, No. 12-ranked Aleksei Oleinik faces Maurice Greene in heavyweight action. Greene (8-4) had his three-fight winning streak broken by Sergei Pavlovich via first-round TKO in October. Oleinik (57-13-1) comes in having lost back-to-back bouts. If he can get Greene to the canvas, it's over as 45 of Oleinik's wins are by submission.
Brian Kelleher taps out Ode Osbourne
10:56 p.m.: Kelleher def. Osbourne via submission (guilliotine choke) at 2:49 of the first round.
Experience won out for Kelleher. Not liking what he saw on the feet, so Kelleher grabbed a single leg in trying to Osbourne down. Kelleher succeeded and it was all him from there. He tried for a couple of submission attempts before Osbourne left his head open and Kelleher snatched it up, locked in the guillotine to finish it off to snap a two-fight losing skid.
10:50 p.m.: Up next at UFC 246, Brian Kelleher (19-10) takes Ode Osbourne (8-2) in bantamweight action. This bout got bumped up to the main card after the Alexa Grassio and Claudia Gadealha bout was scrapped for Grasso inexplicably missing weight by 5.5 pounds.
Carlos Diego Ferreira chokes out Anthony Pettis
10:35 p.m.: Ferreira def. Pettis by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:46 of the second round.
Couldn't ask for a better showing if you are a Ferreira fan. He fought hard for the takedown and once he got Pettis down, it was the Brazilian from there. He was able to secure Pettis' back and to the shock of many, the former titleholder tapped out.
Ferreira has to definitely be ranked when the new list comes out this coming week. How can't he be after a dominating performance and a win streak that's now at seven?
What does Pettis do now? He's at the tail end instead of nearing his peak. Pettis needs to take a hard, long look at what he's going to do next.
10:15 p.m.: The main card of UFC 246 begins with No. 11-ranked Anthony Pettis meeting Carlos Diego Ferreira in lightweight action. Pettis (22-9), the former lightweight champion, returns to 155 pounds after competing at welterweight in his last bout when he lost to Nate Diaz at UFC 241. Ferreira (16-2) rides a five-fight winning streak going into the biggest contest of his career.
Could this be a changing of the guard?
9:59 p.m.: Modafferi def. Barber by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27).
A tremendous performance by Modafferi. She showed great striking and her grappling was fantastic and on point. Yes, Barber suffered a knee injury, but Modafferi won the first round and had already figured out to where she was on her way to a likely victory.
Give Barber credit. She hung in there valiantly and fought to the very end. She's only 21 and will definitely be back.
9:52 p.m.: Barber, who looked to suffer a knee injury at the beginning of the second after getting hit with a jab, was examined by the ringside doctor between rounds. He proceeds to tell the referee she has a small tear of the ACL. Have never seen that. Ridiculous. Is the doctor a walking MRI?
9:51 p.m.: An upset is brewing with Modafferi appearing to be up two rounds heading into the third. Barber is going to need a stoppage to win.
9:38 p.m.: The UFC 246 featured prelim has No. 7-ranked Roxanne Modafferi taking on No. 9-ranked Maycee Barber in women's flyweight action. Modafferi (23-17) is one of the pioneers of women's MMA. She's been on the skids of late, having lost two of her last three. Barber (8-0) has taken the UFC by storm, winning all three of her fights by stoppage. At 21 years of age, Barber has the total package of looks, charisma and most importantly, knowing how to finish fights.
A really tough test to see how good Barber is at this stage.
9:27 p.m.: Sodiq Yusuff def. Andre Fili by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28); featherweights.
It all comes down to how you view the third round as Fili won the first and Yusuff won the second. Yusuff controlled the first of the final round while Fili came on in the second half and ended the fight with a takedown. A good fight, but not the war many were expecting.
9:11 p.m.: The first round delivered as advertised. We seen each guy have success on the feet until Fili took Yusuff down. After a good scramble, Yusuff snuck in a kimura that was locked in deep. Fili somehow got out and tried for a triangle choke, but let go. Can Fili and Yusuff keep the pace up?
9:04 p.m.: Right now in a featured preliminary bout at UFC 246, Andre Fili takes on Sodiq Yusuff in featherweight action. Don't get up off your couch. Fili and Yusuff are going to sling the leather in what is expected to be the fight of the night.
9 p.m.: Welcome to Sporting News' live coverage of UFC 246. The card is highlighted by the return of Conor McGregor, as he takes on Donald Cerrone in welterweight action. Sit back, relax and grab the refreshments because you don't want to miss what is expected to be an exciting night of action.
Conor McGregor vs. 'Cowboy' Cerrone undercard results
- Askar Askarov def. Tim Elliott via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28); flyweights
- Drew Dober def. Nasrat Haqparast via TKO at 1:10 of the first round; lightweights
- Aleksa Camur def. Justin Ledet via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28); light heavyweights
- Sabina Mazo def. JJ Aldrich via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28); women's flyweights
Conor McGregor vs. 'Cowboy' Cerrone fight card
Main card
- Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone; welterweights
- Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington; women's bantamweights
- Aleksei Oleinik vs. Maurice Greene; heavyweights
- Brian Kelleher vs. Ode Osbourne; bantamweights
- Anthony Pettis vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira; lightweights
Preliminary card
- Roxanne Modafferi vs. Maycee Barber; women's flyweights
- Andre Fili vs. Sodiq Yusuff; featherweights
- Drew Dober vs. Nasrat Haqparast; lightweights
- Chas Skelly vs. Grant Dawson; featherweights
- Sabina Mazo vs. JJ Aldrich; women's flyweights
- Tim Elliott vs. Askar Askarov; flyweights
- Aleksa Camur vs. Justin Ledet; light heavyweights
Conor McGregor vs. Cowboy Cerrone latest news
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