“I am cold. I am emotionless… At peace. Ready for war,” said UFC megastar Conor McGregor in 2015, just before stepping into the biggest fight of his career—a 145lbs title unification bout against then-champion Jose Aldo at UFC 194. At the time, Aldo was an unstoppable force, reigning as the WEC and UFC featherweight champion for seven years and riding an 18-fight win streak. But inside the MGM Grand Garden that night, Aldo had no idea what was coming. The Irishman wasted no time in making history. Just 13 seconds into the fight, he landed a thunderous left hand, sending Aldo crashing to the canvas.
With that single punch, Conor McGregor became the undisputed featherweight champion, securing the fastest knockout in UFC title fight history—a record that still stands today. His dominance didn’t stop there. ‘The Notorious’ went on to win a fight at welterweight and eventually claimed the UFC lightweight title, becoming the first fighter in history to hold two belts simultaneously. His rise to superstardom led to the infamous “Red P–ty Night” showdown against boxing legend Floyd Mayweather and the heated rivalry with the UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov. The rest, as they say, is history.
However, that version of Conor McGregor seems like a distant memory. It has been nearly four years since he last stepped into the Octagon, following a brutal leg injury against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. Since then, the Irishman has teased a return countless times, only to shift his focus toward Hollywood projects and business ventures. Earlier this month, he seemingly crushed fans’ hopes once again by announcing his interest in politics. Speaking at BKFC 70, he revealed: “I am happy with what I have done,” hinting that a comeback was unlikely.
Yet, despite stepping away from competition, Conor McGregor remains as vocal as ever. Recently, he reacted to an old video of himself from his early MMA days, where he knocked out an opponent on the Irish regional circuit. The clip, shared by an MMA-focused Instagram page, didn’t go unnoticed by McGregor, who responded with his trademark bravado: “Fastest KO’s in MMA history! Most KO’s in Irish MMA! Most world titles! Most moola! Quickest in and out! Bing bang bosh to a billi of dosh!.”
In addition to being a two-division UFC champion, Conor McGregor was also a Cage Warriors two-division titleholder. The fight in question took place at IFC (Immortal Fighting Championship 4) in 2011, where ‘The Notorious’ faced Paddy Doherty at the Radisson Hotel in County Donegal, Ireland. However, Sherdog records indicate the knockout occurred at the 4-second mark—not 3 seconds, as the Irishman claimed. Meanwhile, Tapology does not list McGregor’s fight against Doherty at all. Instead, it recognizes Othaman Allach’s 3-second finish over Ismael Sahar in the Netherlands as the fastest knockout in MMA history.
Regardless of the official time, there’s no denying McGregor’s impact on the sport. His aggressive fighting style and devastating left hand propelled him to superstardom. Even now, years after his prime, one of his former sparring partners recently spoke out about just how lethal Conor McGregor’s power truly is. Let’s dive into what he had to say.
Gunnar Nelson explained Conor McGregor’s knockout power
“McGregor is a freak athlete with a touch of death who just zaps people,” said Joe Rogan back in 2017 as Conor the Irishman prepared for his one-and-done boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. At the time, Rogan emphasized McGregor’s knockout power, noting that he had finished 75% of his MMA bouts by knockout. However, while Rogan predicted McGregor’s power could be a factor, the fight came and went, and ‘The Notorious’ was unable to tarnish Mayweather’s unblemished record.
In the end, Mayweather retired with a perfect 50-0 record. Despite that result, Rogan’s statement still holds weight. Throughout his MMA career, Conor McGregor has been known as a fighter who thrives on early finishes. Anyone caught by his left hand rarely recovers, as his punches land with precision and devastating force. In 2017, UFC welterweight contender Gunnar Nelson offered insight into the sheer danger of McGregor’s striking.
Speaking with SiriusXM Rush, Nelson broke down what makes Conor McGregor’s left hand such a lethal weapon: “Yeah, he’s got ridiculous power in his left hand. What’s more important is his precision and timing with his left hand. And he can throw it from all different situations. From where he’s backing off, where he’s coming in, when he’s kind of angled off, and in combinations – he just sets it up with all these different aspects. It’s just a very, very dangerous weapon.”
What do you think about Conor McGregor’s knockout power? If he had remained fully focused during his prime, would he still be dominating the Octagon today? Share your thoughts below!
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