– Paul Dollery reports from Madison Square Garden, New York
CONOR McGREGOR HAS done what had never been done before.
On a night when the UFC celebrated its birthday, McGregor was simply too good for defending UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez in the main event at UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden.
At the climax of the UFC’s historic first event in New York City, McGregor put on an exhibition of precise striking to stop Alvarez in the second round.
As a result, the 28-year-old superstar is now the first man in the 23-year history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship to hold two titles simultaneously.
Last December he needed just 13 seconds to dethrone Jose Aldo in a featherweight title bout. Dislodging Alvarez from the summit of the lightweight division took a little longer, but the performance was no less emphatic.
Despite being knocked down three times in the first half of the opening round, the gritty Alvarez somehow made it to the end of the frame but with his status as the top dog in the 155lbs division looking precarious.
As McGregor pawed at his opponent to establish his range, Alvarez rushed in with a flurry and was sent crashing by a left counter, but the Philadelphia native returned to his feet before McGregor could pounce.
Moments after a failed takedown attempt, the defending champion was dropped by another left counter. Yet again he was swiftly back up.
Alvarez was then felled by a straight left and McGregor rushed in to finish the job. The Dubliner landed some punches and elbows on the ground until Alvarez eventually escaped.
Alvarez was more than willing to engage in the exchanges in the second round, and while he had some moderate success, his striking was no match for the pinpoint accuracy and power of his opponent’s.
Another left counter had Alvarez wobbling, McGregor followed up with a right and then repeated the combination to send Alvarez to the mat.
This time the champion wasn’t able to recover but McGregor added a couple of extra shots to seal an unprecedented achievement after three minutes and four seconds of the second round.
