McGregor floors Cerrone in 40 seconds

Conor McGregor made an emphatic statement on his UFC return as he needed just 40 seconds to overpower veteran American Donald Cerrone at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The Irishman had been out of action for 15 months but exploded into life from the first bell of the welterweight bout at UFC 246, charging at his opponent before bloodying his nose with several unorthodox shoulder strikes in the clinch.
McGregor then stepped back and a precision head kick high over the guard landed square on the jaw of Cerrone, who was also caught by a flying knee and crumpled to the mat as the Dubliner went for an early finish.
Cerrone was covered up as the rights and lefts rained down on him, prompting referee Herb Dean to call a halt to a brief one-sided contest within the first minute of the opening round.
“I made history here, I set another record: I’m the first fighter in UFC history to secure knockout victories at featherweight, at lightweight and now at welterweight, so I’m very, very proud of that,” McGregor said in the octagon.
“Donald holds the record for most head-kick knockouts, I’m so happy to get him down with a head kick myself. I’m very, very happy, very proud.
“Who’s going up and down divisions and stopping people like that?
“The UFC can strip fighters and gift other fighters make-believe belts in order to replicate my champ-champ status, but they can’t give knockout victories across multiple weight divisions. Etch my name in history one more time.”
Cerrone admitted he was caught off guard by McGregor’s tactics.
“What a great gameplan he had,” said Cerrone.
“I have never seen anything like that. He caught me off guard. I got my ass whipped man.”
As for who he wants to fight next, McGregor said: “Any one of these little mouthy fools can get it. I like this weight division, I feel really good, it’s good going up and down.
“God willing, I came out of here unscathed, I’m in shape, I don’t believe I’m there yet, I’ve still got work to do to get back to where I was. I’m going to party tonight and celebrate, spend time with my family and get back in the gym and train.”