UFC 194 Results: Conor McGregor Needs Just 13-Seconds to Claim UFC Gold

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Conor McGregor backed up every word.

On Saturday, December 12, a day that will forever be remembered, Conor McGregor did the unthinkable and turned Jose Aldo’s lights out just seconds into their title fight at UFC 194 in Las Vegas.

With over 12 months of hype surrounding this title, the excitement in the air was palpable as McGregor, the interim featherweight champion, entered the arena opposite Aldo, the reigning featherweight champion.

From the moment he stepped foot inside the cage, the Irishman seemed to ooze confidence as he met the pound-for-pound great in Aldo in the center of the Octagon, ready for a battle many believed would go down as an all time great.

The two were originally scheduled to meet at UFC 189 in July. With a world tour to promote the fight behind them, the event seemed to dwarf anything the UFC had ever put together in company history

But just two weeks before the fight,  a rib injury forced Aldo out of the bout. McGregor would make quick work of his replacement, finishing Chad Mendes with strikes late into Round 2 to claim the interim title.

Now with a shiny new belt of his own, the anticipation of a future meet up with Aldo only increased.

But come fight week, the normally brash-mouthed Irishman became uncharacteristically quiet, only doing  a handful of interviews while keeping his cool.

This was none more evident than during the weigh-ins on Friday where it was Aldo who was clowning around with McGregor.

But once that cage door closed, McGregor proved the doubters wrong with a single left hook to the jaw of the charging Aldo.

With the champion crumpling to the floor, McGregor followed up with a series of hammer fists, forcing the referee Herb Dean to stop the fight just 13-seconds into their title fight.

With the Irish crowd going berserk around him, the new champion leapt onto the cage to celebrate with his county.

“Ireland we did it, yea.” said McGregor to the thunderous arena.

Indeed, it was hard to hear McGregor as seemingly everyone in attendance hung on every word their countryman said.

“He’s a phenomenal warrior and a phenomenal champion,” said McGregor of his fallen foe. “He deserved to go a little bit longer.

Aldo, hiding his face following the fight, immediately called for a rematch with the McGregor

“He threw a right on my chest, I expected that,” said Aldo inside the Octagon, “When I attacked him, he hit a good right, and that was it.  I think after this fight, we have to go for a rematch.

Aldo would also reveal McGregor’s trash talk played no factor in his loss.

“I think we need a rematch and that will be my fight. ” repeated Aldo. “The trash talking didn’t affect me, I don’t care what he says. Thanks to everyone watching in Brazil and thank you for the support.  I will be back.”

For, McGregor it was right back to his “Mystic-Mac” gimmick of predicting how his fight play out.

“I did say that the right hand would be his downfall,” said McGregor “What I say happens, happens. I felt like last fight week was gone before I could embrace it, but this time I took it in. The Irish are making the fight game what it is today.”

But when pressed for what his immediate plans were for his new belt, the “Notorious” one wasn’t as welcoming to the immediate rematch Aldo was calling for.

“I think Aldo should reassess himself while I look to maybe go for the 155-pound belt or maybe I look at Frankie, so there are options. I showed up and put a stamp on the real belt, there is no doubt now.

“But I’ll tell you one thing, if I go up to 155-pounds, there is no way in hell I am vacating this belt. There will be a belt on both arms.”