There is hype and then there is action. One is the domain of those who are being, who have corralled a reputation and a spot and have established themselves inside the middle.
The action is the becoming. And Conor McGregor did quite a lot of becoming Saturday night at UFC 178 in Las Vegas.
The fighting public, particularly his Irish brethren, were drawn to McGregor's supreme confidence in the days and weeks leading up to fight night. But plenty of observers wondered whether the 26-year-old had bitten off more than he could chew against Dustin Poirier, a rangy and ill-tempered Jack-of-all-trades from Louisiana, who had polished off some of the division's top guys over the past couple of years.
We all soon had our answers. McGregor entered the contest loose and relaxed, while Poirier appeared tight with agitation or adrenaline. McGregor appeared to expend minimal energy firing punch combinations, which included a big overhand left on their tail ends and even the odd spinning back kick for giggles.
With no warning, one of those lefts connected in just the wrong spot if you're Poirier, sort of behind the ear (replays show that the blow was dangerously close to the illegal zone in the back of the head). Poirier dropped like a stone, McGregor pounced with hammer fists and the bout was soon waved off.
The official result was that McGregor defeated Poirier by TKO at 1:46 of the very first round.
In the cage after the fight, McGregor told broadcaster Joe Rogan that he was ready for the sport's very biggest stage, and champion Jose Aldo.
"When featherweights get hit by me, it's a whole different ball game," McGregor said. "You know what's next. That world title is next. I'll fight the fight in Brazil if they want. I'll eliminate Chad 'Mini' Mendes if they want. Or you know we go do it on Irish soil."
Enjoy the video highlights of the bout, courtesy of Fox Sports.
