LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 12: Conor McGregor celebrates after a first-round knockout victory over Jose Aldo in their featherweight title fight during UFC 194 on December 12, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
It would be gratuitous at this point to say that Conor McGregor has taken the UFC world by storm and has risen to be one of the most influential fighters to date, he has shown us that. His press conference banter, his immeasurable confidence, and most importantly his ability to bring what comes out of his mouth onto the mat of the octagon is a large part of why his upcoming blockbuster fight with Floyd Mayweather was able to be be set in motion.
To coalesce the Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts world was perceived as unimaginable. Sure, there have been instances where boxers try there hand at mixed martial arts, but look how that turns out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QIYYd-v8jI
I will say this though, in the Tim Sylvia vs. Ray Mercer Fight, both fighters agreed to keep the UFC battle to a boxing match, and it ended pretty quickly in favor of the boxer ending after a total of nine seconds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUx9OE7DZAo
For there to be a fight where a Mixed Martial Artist steps out of his element and into the boxing ring with one of the most decorated, and arguably best boxers of all time (Floyd Mayweather), there needs to be an opponent who can make the fight entertaining. There needs to be an opponent who can make the audience think that maybe at any moment the fight could turn sour for even the best boxer, and due to his vicious striking abilities and eased poise while doing so, that opponent is undeniably Conor McGregor.
We rank Conor’s Top 5 best knockouts in the octagon to show what it is that Floyd Mayweather is up against.
5. Conor McGregor vs. Marcus Brimage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEu1l_rnn74
The fight took place in Stockholm, Sweden ending only after one minute seven seconds into the first round. This fight dates back to April 6, 2013 and won knockout of the night at the UFC on Fuel TV: Mousasi vs. Lafiti event.
4. Conor McGregor vs. Chad Mendes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqJCmpUd4Rg
On July 11, 2015 Conor was the victor over Chad Mendes, winning by TKO (punches). This particular fight was for the UFC Featherweight Championship, and won performance of the night at UFC 189 taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada.
3. Conor McGregor vs. Ivan Buchinger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5UHcRqNJWk
Let’s take a trip down memory lane. The date was December 31, 2012 and Conor McGregor put the moves on Buchinger to take the Cage Warriors Lightweight Championship with ease in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland. His next fight would be his debut in the UFC against Marcus Brimage, a performance that has made it onto our list.
2. Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRRguAknkno
With Conor’s return to Lightweight, this performance won him both the UFC Lightweight Championship and performance of the night at UFC 205 in New York City.
1. Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6AK9PaMm4k
Coming in at number one is the infamous McGregor/Aldo fight. This will never die down. The hype in the press conferences were electric, not to mention this was the fight that McGregor pulled out the most savage move of all-time by stealing Jose Aldo’s championship belt and holding it up to the audience as they roared.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srhvmWcqyi8
Look at Dana White’s face, poetry. Many wondered if McGregor could back up all the trash talk that spewed out of his mouth, and about 13 seconds into the video you realized this guy is something else. This performance won and unified the UFC Featherweight Championship, while also being awarded performance of the night atUFC 194 in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 12, 2015.
