Conor McGregor reflects on historic UFC 205 victory before sending fans return message
The Notorious created UFC history three years ago today.
Conor McGregor has reflected on his historic UFC 205 victory over Eddie Alvarez, which took place three years ago today.
In front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden in New York, McGregor made history by becoming the UFC’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion.
The then-featherweight titleholder, who was fighting for the first time after his back-to-back wars with Nate Diaz, created history with a masterful performance over future hall of famer Alvarez - a man many tipped him to lose to.
McGregor produced a performance worthy of the momentous card - the UFC’s first card in New York for 21 years - and one that lives long in the memory.
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The SBG Ireland star’s career-defining victory came via a spectacular second-round TKO victory, with the Dubliner expertly seeing off all the defending champion's attacks before dispatching him with a beautiful four-punch combination just after the three-minute mark.
To this day, the victory remains McGregor’s Picasso, which he reflected on in a lengthy Instagram post.
“3 years ago today I became a multiple-time, multiple-weight World champion at Madison Square Garden, New York City,” the 31-year-old wrote. “What a moment in my life.
“To capture the double once. Wow! To do it twice. Lord have mercy.
3 years ago today I became a multiple-time, multiple-weight World champion at Madison Square Garden, New York City. What a moment in my life.
“I often look at this second picture and imagine how trippy that view must be for my father. Looking up at his son after doing exactly shot for shot what I told him I would do.
“I even done it no hands the second time. I will credit hard work for this moment but it’s not just that. Hard work alone is not enough.
“We can all work hard for a minute. It’s the consistency to do it over and over and over again that will lead you to these iconic moments. Year after year of focused work!
“I worked hard my last two fights. No doubt. But without consistency, I fell short. All amazing and valuable lessons going forward on this journey that is Martial Life!”
McGregor, 21-4, hasn’t set foot inside the Octagon since losing his UFC 229 grudge match to Khabib Nurmagomedov last October.
‘The Notorious’, however, is planning to return to action at UFC 246 on January 18.
And in his latest Instagram post, he appeared to send a message to fight fans awaiting his return.
The former two-division champion signed off his reflective Instagram post by saying: “Onwards we go. Happy Tuesday everyone.”
It’s understood fan favourite Donald Cerrone is in the front-runner to welcome McGregor to the Octagon, though UFC president Dana White has denied suggestions a deal for ‘Cowboy’ to face ‘Mystic Mac’ is in place.
"There's nothing done," White told Express Sport during the UFC 244 post-fight press conference. "Literally zero.
"Conor came out and said that. People then said, 'Is this true?' And I said, 'He wants to fight that date.' But we literally haven't done [anything].
"Nobody has called Cerrone. Cerrone actually text me yesterday and said, 'I hope all this talk is true.' So there is literally nothing done. Zero."