UFC Sweden: A star is born in Stockholm as Conor McGregor proves his notoriety with knockout win
After a stunning display on his UFC debut, Irishman Conor McGregor announced himself as the UFC's newest star, writes Simon Head
Winners are grinners: Conor McGregor celebrates his knockout of the night performance on his UFC debut
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Like many debutants, Conor McGregor kicked off his UFC career on the preliminary card of a UFC event. But after his performance on Saturday night, I very much doubt we'll see Conor McGregor operating that far down a UFC card again.
Despite only being on the web-streamed preliminary undercard of the UFC on Fuel TV 9 event in Sweden this weekend, the Irishman's name was the one on everyone's lips as the curtain came down on an entertaining night's fights in Stockholm.
The former Cage Warriors featherweight and lightweight world champion made his debut against the solid former Ultimate Fighter graduate Marcus Brimage, who had lost just once in his career.
McGregor finished him in just 67 seconds.
McGregor's arrival in the world's biggest MMA organisation came with a significant amount of expectation from the fans who had followed his career to date and demanded his inclusion in the UFC.
Indeed, Irish fans repeatedly told Dana White to sign McGregor during the UFC president's recent trip to Ireland.
And the man known as "The Notorious" more than delivered on his fans' promises by turning in a memorable display on his UFC debut.
McGregor looked loose and relaxed from the moment he stepped into the Octagon, and proceeded to pick apart his opponent with some slick, accurate boxing from the southpaw stance.
As Brimage looked to close the distance and impose his clinch and wrestling skills, McGregor maintained his striking distance with excellent footwork and laser-sighted punches.
Virtually everything he threw seemed to land - and a blistering salvo of shots, including a superb pair of uppercuts, sent "The Bama Beast" to the mat, where the fight was quickly stopped.
McGregor was rewarded for his eye-catching performance with a $60,000 bonus for the knockout of the night, as well as a glowing reference from his newest fan, White himself.