Video: The Cage Warriors fight that earned Conor McGregor a UFC contract

He got his own media day despite being a preliminary-card fighter, he’s palled around with UFC President Dana White, and he’s turned his home country into an MMA hotbed. But before he stepped foot inside the octagon, Irishman Conor McGregor wowed UFC officials with his performance at Cage Warriors 53.

After claiming Cage Warriors’ featherweight title, McGregor headlined the Dec. 31 event and met Ivan Buchinger for the vacant lightweight title.

His remarkable performance in the Dublin event earned him a UFC contract, where he ultimately made short work of Marcus Brimage in his promotional debut. Tonight, McGregor (13-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) looks to keep the hype train chugging along when he meets fellow featherweight standout Max Holloway (7-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 26, which airs on FOX Sports 1 from Boston’s TD Garden.

Check our McGregor’s final and memorable Cage Warriors appearance with the video above.

And for the latest on UFC Fight Night 26, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.