The odds were close, according to BetDSI.com, but it was an upset nonetheless.
McGregor has won his last 15 fights, finishing 14 of them.
In the co-main event, Luke Rockhold (+137) dethroned Chris Weidman (-168) to become middleweight champion. The American Kickboxing Academy ace caught an ill-timed kick in the third round, landed a takedown, advanced to mount and rained heavy elbows and punches. The fight was allowed to continue, with Rockhold battering the Serra-Longo Fight Team rep until referee Herb Dean had seen enough.
In another mild upset on the main card, American Top Team brute Yoel Romero (+116) eked out a split decision over Ronaldo Souza (-138). The first round was Romero’s strongest, as the onetime Olympic silver medalist nearly finished it with a spinning backfist and follow-up punches and elbows. Romero is 7-0 in the UFC and has emerged as the No. 1 contender at 185 pounds.
Meanwhile, Demian Maia (+104) used his tried-and-tested Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills to put on a grappling and ground-and-pound clinic against Gunnar Nelson (-124), cruising to a unanimous decision over the Renzo Gracie protégé. Scores were 30-26, 30-25 and 30-25 for Maia, who is on a four-fight winning streak at 170 pounds.
The prelims saw a few upsets, too.
“The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” Season 3 winner Warlley Alves (+114) stayed undefeated with a guard-jump guillotine choke submission on American Top Team prospect Colby Covington (-134). The choke ended it 1:26 into round one, moving Alves to 10-0.
Elsewhere, the athleticism and well-rounded skills of promising Xtreme Couture export Kevin Lee (-585) were no match for the brilliant timing and powerful counter right hand of multiple-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Leonardo Santos (+425). He put an end to Lee’s four-fight winning streak and left with a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus after scoring the biggest upset on the card.
Finally, Yancy Medeiros (+145) took a razor-thin unanimous decision from Tristar Gym’s John Makdessi (-170) at 155 pounds. The Hawaiian knocked down Makdessi with a left hook in the third round, his efforts rewarded by judges Lester Griffin, 29-28, and Marcos Rosales, 29-28.