Conor McGregor is your new—interim—UFC featherweight champion. It isn't the championship he had hoped to have around his waist at UFC 189, but it still felt pretty sweet.
McGregor bested Chad Mendes in under two rounds by TKO. The UFC's Irish star got the signature win that critics had chastised him for lacking, and now he can firmly stand atop the division alongside Jose Aldo. UFC 189 is one of the biggest and best events in UFC history.
This is how the world of Twitter reacted to his championship performance.
Sinead O'Connor Sings McGregor's Entrance
The Irish singer performed McGregor's entrance at UFC 189, and it marked one of the few times a live performance accompanied a fighter. The production improvements made this fight feel special, and this is hopefully where the UFC is going. Embrace the spectacle.
This guy #UFC189 pic.twitter.com/lPTgNWAL66
— Bleacher Report MMA (@BR_MMA) July 12, 2015
Sinead singing in McGregor gives #UFC189 a #WrestleMania feel. Like Motorhead singing in Triple H. Really professional. Clean. Real sporty.
— Steven Rondina (@srondina) July 12, 2015
Live music entrances for both McGregor and Mendes. And it's awesome. UFC embracing the need for a little pageantry.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) July 12, 2015
Ireland's @SineadOconnorHQ & @TheNotoriousMMA blowing the roof off the @MGMGrand!! #UFC189 live on Pay-Per-View http://t.co/jmIKwEHvgT
— UFC (@ufc) July 12, 2015
This is going to be unbelievable. Dublin has come to Vegas, and they brought Sinead with them.
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) July 12, 2015
Round 1
Mendes took the fight round of the fight, but it wasn't easy. He was visibly tired in the cage in just the first five minutes. He still was able to take McGregor down and land several elbows. His success would be short-lived.
We're underway. Conor throws a knee, Mendes catches it, takes him down, Conor's up. Big swings. Action!
— Bleacher Report MMA (@BR_MMA) July 12, 2015
Chad needs to get back in there with his wrestling or he's just going to keep getting hit #UFC189
— Sydnie Jones (@syd1138) July 12, 2015
Conor is taking shots. #UFC189
— Tommy Toe Hold (@TommyToeHold) July 12, 2015
McGregor can take a punch...
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) July 12, 2015
McGregor is busted open #UFC189
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) July 12, 2015
This fight is rugged. Mendes has landed the best and cleanest shots, plus takedowns, yet McGregor has him fighting like a wounded animal.
— Jordan Breen (@jordanbreen) July 12, 2015
Mendes is raking the eyes like…a lot
— Brent Brookhouse (@brentbrookhouse) July 12, 2015
McGregor is still talking to Mendes even as he’s taking a beating on the ground. My god. 10-9 Mendes.
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) July 12, 2015
Chad looks a little tired, should win this rnd but man 5 rnds on 17 days training is really tough
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) July 12, 2015
Round 2
McGregor is taken down again, but once he gets back to his feet, he finishes the fight. Mendes went for a guillotine, but it didn't work. That little bit of space is what allowed McGregor back up in the early going. Some also questioned the stoppage of the fight. Too soon? You be the judge.
Chad Mendes 4-4 on takedowns. Conor can't stop them.
— Bleacher Report MMA (@BR_MMA) July 12, 2015
Crowd is irate that Mendes would dare use his strengths against McGregor's weaknesses.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) July 12, 2015
Conor's wrestling defense is exactly what we thought it was. But his striking is still dangerous enough to make it interesting. #UFC189
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) July 12, 2015
Lol Conor resorting to pleading with the referee “please make him let me up!” ???
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) July 12, 2015
Conor finally stopped a takedown.
— Bleacher Report MMA (@BR_MMA) July 12, 2015
McGregor won with seconds left in the round. Place is going insane.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 12, 2015
Well, McGregor had to deal with some really awful situations there, cut, taken down several times, controlled on the ground. And won
— Brent Brookhouse (@brentbrookhouse) July 12, 2015
Oh my God. McGregor got up from his back and knocked Mendes out.
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) July 12, 2015
Post-Fight Reaction
McGregor burying his face in the flag of Ireland.
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) July 12, 2015
Graduation day and @TheNotoriousMMA passed w/ flying colors. @josealdojunior match is massive. Biggest ticket in MMA history. No hyperbole.
— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) July 12, 2015
I'll say this. I like Aldo's chances a lot more now, but that is going to be one hell of a fight.
— Luke Thomas (@SBNLukeThomas) July 12, 2015
Classy moment with Chad and Conor. #UFC189
— Tommy Toe Hold (@TommyToeHold) July 12, 2015
Congrats @TheNotoriousMMA , fashion icon, talker, son , boyfriend...........CHAMPION! Congrats buddy!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 12, 2015
UFC 189 THE GOLD STANDARD
— Sean Shelby (@seanshelby) July 12, 2015
"You're a legend for taking this." - McGregor to Mendes, classy truth from the brash Irish fighter. #UFC189 #UFC #MMA
— Danny Acosta (@AcostaIsLegend) July 12, 2015
At the end of the day it's all #RESPECT! Got to love this sport! #UFC189 http://t.co/Rac7Ad3rSx
— UFC (@ufc) July 12, 2015
SHIVER ME TIMBERS IRISH WIN AGAIN WAY TO GO CONNOR MCGREGOR WHAT A FIGHT WOW
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) July 12, 2015
Conor is going to mess Aldo up. #UFC189 #stylesmakefights
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) July 12, 2015
Congrats to @TheNotoriousMMA & @chadmendes amazing fights. #UFC189
— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) July 12, 2015
New European UFC CHAMPION??#AndNew Congrats @thenotoriousmma! #Repost @ufc with @repostap… http://t.co/XOUdm5kgEX pic.twitter.com/tP8A8r7VFc
— Joanna Jedrzejczyk (@joannamma) July 12, 2015
Media and fighters were not short on opinions following the victory. UFC 189 came through in just about every way. It was exciting, and it gave us stars to follow in the future. This was a successful event, and the UFC brass has to be thrilled.
