Summary

  • Conor McGregor beats Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone in 40 seconds in Las Vegas

  • Irish fighter victorious in return to UFC for first time since October 2018

  • Former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm beats Raquel Pennington

  1. That's a wrappublished at 06:43 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    That's it from UFC 246 then, and a thrilling return to the octagon for Conor McGregor.

    The Irishman showed exactly why he became a global superstar - and that he still has plenty to offer - by knocking out Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone in just 40 seconds.

    I'll leave you with Simon Head's report from cageside in Las Vegas.

  2. Irish eyes are smilingpublished at 06:43 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    Laura Kane
    BBC Sport in Las Vegas

    It’s safe to say there’s going to be a party in Las Vegas tonight...

    Irish fans celebrate in Las VegasImage source, BBC Sport
  3. Postpublished at 06:28 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    You've got to love that attitude from Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone. He knows better than must that you win some, you lose some.

    And if you lose one, you've just got to take it on the chin and move on. So to speak.

  4. 'I got my ass whipped early!'published at 06:27 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    McGregor beats Cerrone in 40 seconds

    Donald Cerrone: "I was like 'oh man, this happened this fast'. I got my ass whipped early!

    "Ah man, I love this sport. I'm going to keep fighting. I don't care, this is what I love man."

  5. 'I've never seen anything like that'published at 06:24 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    McGregor beats Cerrone in 40 seconds

    Donald Cerrone: "He got me with his elbows right away and distorted me. Then he head-kicked me.

    "I've never seen anything like that. He caught me way off guard. He busted my nose, it started bleeding, then he stepped back and head-kicked me."

  6. Postpublished at 06:20 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    If that's a taste of what the UFC has in store for 2020 then I want in!!

    Conor McGregor said he wants "activity". How many fights will he now have this year? And who's next? I can't wait.

  7. Exciting times aheadpublished at 06:18 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    McGregor beats Cerrone in 40 seconds

    Nick Peet
    MMA journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It was the statement performance that Conor McGregor has been promising us, that he needed to launch his 2020 campaign. It's exciting moving forward.

  8. Vintage McGregorpublished at 06:16 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    McGregor beats Cerrone in 40 seconds

    Nick Peet
    MMA journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

    The fans have gone home after seeing exactly what they were hoping for. Anyone that turns out for a Conor McGregor fight wants to be there when he turns in a vintage performance and that was vintage.

    As it played out, Cowboy Cerrone was the right opponent, he was handpicked, for that exact reason - that he will get caught cold early on.

  9. 'I'm back and I'm ready!'published at 06:11 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    McGregor beats Cerrone in 40 seconds

    Conor McGregor: "I like this weight division, I feel really good going up and down. I came out of here unscathed, I'm in shape. I don't believe I'm there yet though, I've still got one to do to get back to where I was. I'm back and I'm ready!"

    Conor McGregorImage source, Getty Images
  10. Postpublished at 06:07 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    And then McGregor tells us all the different sizes they now do in his whiskey. Like he needs any more money.

    Just pocketed $80m, for 40 seconds' work, and is still thinking like a businessman. Never misses a trick.

  11. Postpublished at 06:05 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    McGregor beats Cerrone in 40 seconds

    Conor McGregor: "It was a nice shot [with his shoulder], he wasn't expecting that. When we separated I saw the blood in his eye.

    "I'm so happy. Who's going up and down divisions and stopping people like that?! The UFC can strip fighters [belts] and give 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. For the Irish people, for my ma back home...I love ya to bits, I'm coming home with the win!!"

  12. History makerpublished at 06:00 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    McGregor beats Cerrone in 40 seconds

    Conor McGregor: "I made history here tonight, I set another record. I'm the first fighter in UFC history to secure knockouts at featherweight, lightweight and now welterweight so I'm very proud of that.

    "Donald holds the record for the most head-kick knockouts so I'm so happy to get him there with a head-kick myself."

  13. Ireland baaaby!!published at 05:57 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    McGregor beats Cerrone in 40 seconds

    Before raining the lefts on Cerrone, Conor McGregor did the damage to Cowboy's nose with his shoulder in the clinch...

    In his post-fight interview, McGregor said: "I changed levels with that and came up into it so it was a good shot...Ireland baaaby!"

  14. Back with a BANG!published at 05:55 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    Jagroop Shinbt
    BBC Sport in Las Vegas

    He’s back… with a BANG! It’s a new year and a new McGregor, as he wipes away the memories of his previous two losses with a monumental performance against Donald Cerrone. The roof lifts off the T-Mobile Arena as it erupts in green, white and orange.

  15. 'The power is back in McGregor's hands'published at 05:53 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    Nick Peet
    MMA journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

    There was no dry ice here tonight, no big emphatic ring walk. It was all business. He got in there and got the job done. Now the bravado can come back.

    Jorge Masvidal, Kamaru Usman and a few others are pulling their faces cageside but they're cageside for a reason - they all want the Conor fight. And right now, with his arm raised, the power is back in the hands of Conor McGregor. He will now choose what he does next.

  16. What a return by McGregor!published at 05:51 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    What a return by Conor McGregor. He came out quickly and once that high kick landed, he was clinical.

    It took a few lefts to get Cowboy to his knees and then the Irishman rained down the punches until the referee had to step in. Ruthless.

  17. 'Cowboy looks like he's been hit by a truck'published at 05:45 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    Nick Peet
    MMA journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

    40 seconds, that's all it was. And Cowboy Cerrone looks like he's been hit by a truck.

    That was exactly what Conor wanted to do. You could see from the get-go he wanted to get that left hand going and once Cowboy threw that high kick - which we all agreed was one of his best weapons - he countered with one straight away.

  18. McGregor beats Cerronepublished at 05:43 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    Conor McGregor returned to the octagon in style at UFC 246 as he beat American fan favourite Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in just 40 seconds in Las Vegas.

    Irishman McGregor, 31, came out on top after one of the most spectacular performances of his career.

    Two of UFC's most popular fighters went toe to toe in the main event at the T-Mobile Arena.

    But referee Herb Dean stepped in and waved off the contest inside a minute after a series of blows from McGregor.

  19. 'Faultless by McGregor'published at 05:39 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    Dan Hardy
    Former UFC fighter on BBC Radio 5 live

    Conor immediately took the centre and threw the left hand. Cowboy ducked underneath it, trying to get the takedown, I think he decided that was the game plan coming in.

    But Conor got the head kick, it was partially blocked but Cowboy was wobbled onto his heels, then Conor followed up with a flying knee. It was a faultless performance by Conor McGregor.

    Conor McGregor flying kick on Donald CerroneImage source, Reuters
  20. McGregor beats Cerronepublished at 05:35 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2020

    Nick Peet
    MMA journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Conor McGregor collapsed to his knees, the emotion that must be running through his body after the last 15 months, everything he's gone through. What a finish!

    Cerrone threw a high kick but Conor caught it and threw one straight back, and that's what led to the finish.

    Conor McGregorImage source, Getty Images