NEW YORK—Conor McGregor raised his arms in triumph before he stepped inside the cage, the cocky Irishman playing to a crowd going wild for UFC’s greatest champion.
McGregor ran a circle around the mat, a victory lap of sorts before he even threw a punch. McGregor packed fans to the Madison Square Garden rafters and drove them into a frenzy as he packed a vicious punch against Eddie Alvarez.
McGregor used a brash and brilliant performance to knock out the overwhelmed Alvarez in the second round to win the UFC lightweight title Saturday in the main event of UFC 205 on a record night.
He dubbed himself this week the King of New York.
Now, he’s been crowned a two-class champ.
“What’s next for me,” McGregor bellowed inside the cage.
The easy answer: whatever the “Notorious” one wants.
McGregor dominated from the opening bell of the biggest card in UFC history—on pace to set an MMA pay-per-view record—and the sold-out crowd of 20,427 loaded with A-listers from Madonna to Hugh Jackman went wild with each punishing blow.
McGregor, also UFC’s featherweight champ following a 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo, had predicted a fourth-round KO.
Unlike UFC’s laborious legal fight to reach New York, McGregor wouldn’t make anyone wait.
UFC has not decided if McGregor (21-3) will be allowed to defend both championships. UFC President Dana White said McGregor could be about the only fighter in the promotion to handle that kind of grueling fight load.
“Who knows,” White said. “I’m going to let him enjoy his night.”
