UFC 189: Conor McGregor stops Chad Mendes late in second round to win interim featherweight title at MGM Grand in Las Vegas

  • Conor McGregor stopped Chad Mendes late in the second round to claim interim featherweight title at UFC 189
  • Irish fighter delighted his thousands of fans at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas with vicious series of strikes
  • McGregor had spent much of the two rounds on his back but responded with lightning-quick combinations 
  • A big left hand sent Mendes to the canvas and McGregor hit away for the stoppage before celebrating
  • Mendes stepped in two-and-a-half weeks ago following injury to featherweight champion Jose Aldo
  • READ: Conor McGregor parties the night away after defeating Chad Mendes

Conor McGregor backed up every single word.

The Irish mixed martial arts sensation won the UFC interim featherweight title at UFC 189 on Saturday night, stopping Chad Mendes with three seconds left in the second round with a vicious series of strikes.

McGregor (18-2) spent much of the first two rounds on his back, but he finished the fight with a lightning-quick combination soon after he reached his feet. After a big left hand put Mendes down, McGregor pounded away for the stoppage and then jumped onto the cage in celebration.

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Conor McGregor celebrates with the Irish flag after stopping Chad Mendes in the second round to win the UFC interim featherweight title

Conor McGregor celebrates with the Irish flag after stopping Chad Mendes in the second round to win the UFC interim featherweight title

McGregor exits the Octagon at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas with his interim featherweight title belt around his waist

McGregor exits the Octagon at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas with his interim featherweight title belt around his waist

McGregor raises his fists in triumph after beating Mendes, who had stepped in for the injured featherweight champion Jose Aldo 

McGregor raises his fists in triumph after beating Mendes, who had stepped in for the injured featherweight champion Jose Aldo 

McGregor celebrates with the thousands of Irish fans at the MGM Grand following his victory over Mendes 

McGregor celebrates with the thousands of Irish fans at the MGM Grand following his victory over Mendes 

Despite suffering a cut to the side of the head, McGregor rained blows at Mendes, eventually claiming victory late in the second round

Despite suffering a cut to the side of the head, McGregor rained blows at Mendes, eventually claiming victory late in the second round

#Respect @chadmendes @thenotoriousmma #UFC189

A video posted by ufc (@ufc) on

McGregor later sunk to his knees in tears while thousands of Irish fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena roared in adoration of a loquacious fighter who can make good on every boast and threat.

'To come in here and hear all this applause, it's just amazing,' McGregor said. 'I truly appreciate it.'

Mendes (17-3) stepped in for injured featherweight champion Jose Aldo just two-and-a-half weeks ago, and the elite wrestler was in control of the fight until McGregor's heavy hands changed everything in an instant. Mendes embraced McGregor in sportsmanship after a promotion dominated by high-level trash talk, most of it from the pugnacious Irish brawler who already looks comfortable with a title belt around his waist.

'I've been hearing all the while that I've been protected from this kind of opponent, that I've been gifted a title shot,' McGregor said. 'So when my title shot went running and they gave me the challenge I was supposed to be protected from, I (decided) that I'm just going to prove to people that I'm a true fighter. It doesn't matter who it is, I'll show up and I'll put a finish on any fighter.'

Robbie Lawler also defended his welterweight title in spectacularly bloody fashion, stopping Canada's Rory MacDonald with a big left hand early in the fifth round. Jeremy Stephens stopped Dennis Bermudez 32 seconds into the third round of a wild brawl featuring multiple knockdowns by both fighters, highlighting an action-filled pay-per-view card.

But everything was a prologue to the biggest moment yet in the meteoric MMA rise of McGregor, the former plumber from Dublin who has rocketed through his sport by deploying his sharp tongue as much as his heavy hands.

McGregor beckons Mendes to come and challenge him at the start of the second round, which he concluded as a title-holder (right)
McGregor beckons Mendes to come and challenge him at the start of the second round, which he concluded as a title-holder (right)

McGregor beckons Mendes to come and challenge him at the start of the second round, which he concluded as a title-holder (right)

Mendes recoils after McGregor makes contact with a swing of his left. A succession of blows late in the second round made the difference

Mendes recoils after McGregor makes contact with a swing of his left. A succession of blows late in the second round made the difference

McGregor renders Mendes defenceless with a left as he closed in on victory in the second round of the contest in Las Vegas

McGregor renders Mendes defenceless with a left as he closed in on victory in the second round of the contest in Las Vegas

McGregor aims for Mendes' midriff with a left leg kick as he starts to turn the tables in the UFC 189 contest

McGregor aims for Mendes' midriff with a left leg kick as he starts to turn the tables in the UFC 189 contest

McGregor has won 14 consecutive fights, and now he has a UFC belt and an enormous future date with Aldo.

McGregor and the UFC spent the past several months promoting a title fight with Aldo. McGregor's vocal disdain for the Brazilian and the champion's genuine anger at the Irish challenger's posturing made it an irresistible sell - but the oft-injured Aldo bruised a rib while sparring.

McGregor was undaunted. He vowed to stay on the card for the thousands of fans traveling to Las Vegas from Ireland, and he agreed to a dangerous bout with Mendes, a vicious wrestler whose only two career losses were against Aldo.

Before McGregor began his walk to the cage, a small circular stage carrying Sinead O'Connor rose out of a green fog as she serenaded the crowd. Country singer Aaron Lewis did the same for Mendes moments later as the Irish crowd loudly booed.

The fighters exchanged trash talk and posturing before and after the opening bell, but Mendes landed the first major strike when he cut McGregor above the right eye in the first round. McGregor smiled it off and kept playing to the crowd, but Mendes spent much of the second round on top of McGregor as the crowd booed.

Mendes again got top control in the third, but McGregor escaped late in the round - and his pugilistic prowess decided it. McGregor leaned in to land a right-left combination that stunned Mendes, and McGregor pounced with blows on his prone opponent until referee Herb Dean had to stop it three seconds before the bell.

Barcelona and Brazil star Neymar posed for a picture with UFC fighters Vitor Belfort (left) and Lyoto Machida

Barcelona and Brazil star Neymar posed for a picture with UFC fighters Vitor Belfort (left) and Lyoto Machida

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger (left) in attendance during UFC 189
Former boxing champion Mike Tyson and UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of the many celebrities at ringside along with Mike Tyson and strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Octagon Girls Camila Oliveira, Carly Baker and Arianny Celeste pose before UFC 189 in Las Vegas

Octagon Girls Camila Oliveira, Carly Baker and Arianny Celeste pose before UFC 189 in Las Vegas

UFC Octagon Girl Jhenny Andrade introduces round one of Nelson vs Thatch
UFC Octagon Girl Carly Baker introduces round three of Seery vs Smolka

UFC Octagon girls Jhenny Andrade and Carly Baker (right) introduce the first and third rounds of their respective fights

Once McGregor had Mendes rattled, there was only likely to be one winner and a succession of blows brought the contest to an end

Once McGregor had Mendes rattled, there was only likely to be one winner and a succession of blows brought the contest to an end

Mendes had been on top during the opening stages, forcing McGregor onto his back on the canvas 

Mendes had been on top during the opening stages, forcing McGregor onto his back on the canvas 

Mendes has McGregor in a headlock early in the fight as blood gushes from a wound on the side of his face

Mendes has McGregor in a headlock early in the fight as blood gushes from a wound on the side of his face

McGregor tries to stop Mendes climbing on top of him to strike during the opening round of the fight

McGregor tries to stop Mendes climbing on top of him to strike during the opening round of the fight

McGregor strikes Mendes in the eye with a well-aimed left as he takes control of the fight once back on his feet

McGregor strikes Mendes in the eye with a well-aimed left as he takes control of the fight once back on his feet

McGregor, clutching the Irish tricolor and wearing a pained expression, is cleaned up after the end of the fight 

McGregor, clutching the Irish tricolor and wearing a pained expression, is cleaned up after the end of the fight 

The two fighters embrace at the conclusion of the fight. Mendes said afterwards he had 'no regrets' at taking the fight on at short notice

The two fighters embrace at the conclusion of the fight. Mendes said afterwards he had 'no regrets' at taking the fight on at short notice

'I don't have any regrets,' Mendes said of taking the fight on short notice. 'Conor is a guy that I knew I was going to be fighting eventually. This is the UFC. You have to get in here and do it.'

Lawler (26-10) and MacDonald did extensive damage to each other in the penultimate bout, and Lawler's Canadian challenger ended up with a badly damaged nose. Lawler finally ended it with a big left hand directly into the face of MacDonald (18-3), who rolled onto his back in agony before Lawler finished him 60 seconds into the fifth.

The crowd was fired up for the title bouts by Stephens and Bermudez, who put on an amazing featherweight fight. Stephens, who missed weight, bled extensively in the first round, and both fighters were knocked down in a crazy second before Stephens ended it with a flying knee to Bermudez's face.

Icelandic welterweight Gunnar Nelson (14-1-1) also finished Brandon Thatch in impressive fashion midway through the first round, flooring Thatch with a combination before sinking a choke.

UFC 189 marked the debut of the promotion's new uniforms. Every fighter walked to the cage and competed in similar outfits designed by Reebok. The shorts feature their names, a Reebok logo and theoretically nothing else, now that individual sponsors are banned - although MacDonald's trunks still had a logo for an energy sports drink.

Robbie Lawler on his way to defending his welterweight title with a fifth-round victory over Rory MacDonald in the co-main event

Robbie Lawler on his way to defending his welterweight title with a fifth-round victory over Rory MacDonald in the co-main event

MacDonald caused Lawler problems in what was an absorbing contest but was stopped in the final round at the MGM Grand

MacDonald caused Lawler problems in what was an absorbing contest but was stopped in the final round at the MGM Grand

MacDonald lands his elbow on Lawler's jaw but the challenger was unable to press home his advantage

MacDonald lands his elbow on Lawler's jaw but the challenger was unable to press home his advantage

MacDonald aims a kick at Lawler's head during one of the best fights in the UFC this year

MacDonald aims a kick at Lawler's head during one of the best fights in the UFC this year

Lawler leaves the Octagon with the welterweight belt still wrapped round his waist following his victory over MacDonald

Lawler leaves the Octagon with the welterweight belt still wrapped round his waist following his victory over MacDonald

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