Sherdog’s Top 10: Conor McGregor’s Greatest Hits

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5. Message Sent

Conor McGregor sent a message to his doubters with a straight left hand. The Irishman stopped Chad Mendes with second-round punches to capture the interim Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight crown in the UFC 189 headliner on July 11, 2015 before a raucous pro-Irish crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Mendes, who accepted the bout as a short-notice replacement for the injured Jose Aldo, wilted 4:57 into Round 2. McGregor dealt with the first significant adversity since arriving in the UFC. Mendes secured four takedowns, opened a cut near his right eye with a slashing elbow and piled on the punishment with ground-and-pound from inside guard. McGregor bided his time, and Mendes made a tactical error late in the second round, as he surrendered top position while fishing for a guillotine choke. McGregor escaped to his feet, uncorked a series of accurate punches, dropped the fatigued Team Alpha Male standout with a straight left and polished off what was then his 14th consecutive victory with unanswered rights to a turtled Mendes.

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