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Nicolas Atkin

Conor McGregor is just a left hand, they said. He has nothing else to his game.
Try pulling that fast one again now.
The Irishman rightly took satisfaction in proving the doubters wrong as he dismantled Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in just 40 seconds at UFC 246.
Yes, Herb Dean stepped in as he rained down blows on a grounded and helpless Cerrone with that famous left fist. But it was the work before that that really earned the victory.


The shot from the hip that broke Cerrone’s nose as the American dipped to avoid McGregor’s overhand left straight out of the gate.
The unconventional – but equally effective – blows from the left shoulder in the clinch that further busted up Cerrone’s eye.
Conor blasts Dana’s Moscow stance for Khabib rematch
The high kick to the head – Cerrone’s own party trick – that landed flush on the chin and staggered him into the fence. There was even a Jorge Masvidal-style flying knee thrown in for good measure.
Then came that left hand. A beautiful set-up. McGregor’s skill set is criminally overlooked and underrated. It’s arguable he has never looked better.
“I did come out and I let that left hand go from the chamber,” McGregor told a post-event press conference at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “The force of him dipping and me connecting with him with my hip even was a shot in itself.

“But I probably put that down to 15 months outside the Octagon. A little bit overstepping the shot. I knew Donald’s good at dipping under the left hand and I knew he would attempt it. He’s done it to the former champion in the 170 division, Robbie Lawler. He dipped under the left hand multiple times and secured takedowns. He dipped under the now middleweight Darren Till.
“You know, they’ll have to say now … you know they already say I’ve just got a left hand. They’ll have to say I’ve just got a left shoulder as well. A left hand and a left shoulder. The so-called experts of the game when they’re breaking down my skill set, they’re saying I’m just a fighter with a left hand. Which is highly disrespectful and uneducated.
“You’d be surprised at some of the supposedly knowledgeable people. They be just claiming it as that. It’s a good shot in the clinch. You can really catch a man. I knew I caught him with the first one off guard, then I caught him with one or two more. I separated the nose and the eye was bust. It’s a good shot, I’ve utilised that many times in the gym, and happy with it.”

Just look at it from a statistical point of view.
Forty seconds is the fastest anyone has ever finished Cerrone, by a long shot, and McGregor landed 19 strikes to Cerrone’s zero.
This is against a man who has the records for most UFC wins (23), finishes (16), knock-downs (20) and post-fight bonuses (18).

As the McGregor himself was keen to point out, he is the first UFC fighter with knockout victories in three different weight divisions.
The former featherweight and lightweight champion deserved this moment to gloat. He was doubted by so many.
Even UFC president Dana White did not think McGregor was good enough to hang at welterweight. “You won’t hear another peep out of me about him fighting at 170 again,” White said in the aftermath.

Even more impressive was that it all came after a 15-month lay-off. “The other thing that makes him different, more importantly when you lose one and come back, is the time off,” White said.
“Time off is usually never very good for fighters. You stay active, you stay in better shape, your timing is better. Many of you know, I’m a big believer in ring rust. It’s real, I’ve seen it happen. We didn’t see it tonight.”
After abstaining from alcohol for five months, that cup of Proper 12 whiskey McGregor was sipping on stage must have felt good.

“Coner McGregor looked ridiculous tonight. Nobody saw that coming. Nobody,” White added, summing it up nicely.
“The way he went in there, it looked fast, sharp, strong, and it was all about Conor. It had nothing to do with Cowboy being shot or anything like that.
“That kid has incredible fight IQ and has speed, power and ability to back it up. And implement.”


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

Conor McGregor proves he’s more than just a left hand (though that’s still killer) in UFC 246 clinic

Conor McGregor lands a flying knee to the face of Donald Cerrone. Photo: AFP

MMA Mixed Martial Arts - UFC 246 - Welterweight - Conor McGregor v Donald Cerrone - T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States - January 18, 2020 Conor McGregor in action against Donald Cerrone REUTERS/Mike Blake

Conor McGregor hits Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone during a UFC 246 welterweight mixed martial arts bout Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 18: Conor McGregor (top) fights Donald Cerrone in a welterweight bout during UFC246 at T-Mobile Arena on January 18, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor won by first-round TKO. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Conor McGregor celebrates after defeating Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone during a UFC 246 welterweight mixed martial arts bout, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

UFC: Conor McGregor blasts Dana White’s refusal to put Khabib rematch in Moscow

Conor McGregor celebrates his win against Donald Cerrone. Photo: Reuters

UFC 246: Dana White takes back Conor McGregor welterweight criticism – ‘won’t hear another peep’

Conor McGregor pummels Donald Cerrone on the ground at UFC 246. Photo: Reuters

UFC 246: Conor McGregor breaks Donald Cerrone’s nose and breaks out the whiskey – he’s back

Conor McGregor is back. Photo: USA Today

January 18, 2020; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Donald Cerrone is introduced before fighting Conor McGregor during UFC 246 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone falls after being hit by Conor McGregor during a UFC 246 welterweight mixed martial arts bout Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Conor McGregor kicks Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone during a UFC 246 welterweight mixed martial arts bout Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

UFC 246: Conor McGregor TKOs Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in 40 seconds

Conor McGregor hits Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone during their UFC 246 main event bout in Las Vegas. Photo: AP

Conor McGregor smiles after defeating Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone during a UFC 246 welterweight mixed martial arts bout Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

January 18, 2020; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Conor McGregor lands a kick against Donald Cerrone during UFC 246 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Conor McGregor, rear, embraces Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone after their UFC 246 welterweight mixed martial arts bout Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

UFC: Dana White ‘doesn’t love’ Conor McGregor at 170 pounds – ‘I think Cowboy’s too big for him’

Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone go head to head during the UFC 246 weigh-in. Photos: Reuters

MMA Mixed Martial Arts - UFC 246 - Welterweight - Conor McGregor v Donald Cerrone Weigh-In - Pearl Theater, Palms Resort Casino, Las Vegas, United States - January 17, 2020 Conor McGregor poses during the weigh-in REUTERS/Mike Blake

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


McGregor rounds on ‘disrespectful, uneducated’ critics as he showcases sublime skill set
‘They already say I’ve just got a left hand. They’ll have to say I’ve just got a left shoulder now as well’



Conor McGregor blasts ‘disrespectful and uneducated’ critics as he showcases sublime skill set in 40-second demolition of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246.


UFC 246

Conor McGregor

Dana White

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

The Takedown

The Takedown | Conor McGregor proves he’s more than just a left hand (though that’s still killer) in UFC 246 clinic

McGregor rounds on ‘disrespectful, uneducated’ critics as he showcases sublime skill set ‘They already say I’ve just got a left hand. They’ll have to say I’ve just got a left shoulder now as well’

McGregor rounds on ‘disrespectful, uneducated’ critics as he showcases sublime skill set

‘They already say I’ve just got a left hand. They’ll have to say I’ve just got a left shoulder now as well’