Conor McGregor, the fast-talking UFC featherweight who is enjoying a meteoric rise in popularity in MMA, can count Muscle & Fitness executive editor Arnold Schwarzenegger among his growing legions of fans. McGregor defeated Diego Brandao at UFC Fight Night Dublin at the O2 Arena on Saturday night to go 15-2, 3-0 UFC. The 26-year-old dominated his opponent and ended the fight with a barrage of unanswered shots that forced referee Leon Roberts to call a halt to proceedings with 4:05 gone in the first round. Arnold took to Twitter on Sunday to congratulate the Irishman saying:
UFC President Dana White was hugely impressed by the atmosphere for the fight in the Irish capital, saying that he clocked the decibel level at 111 at one point in the night and compared it to rock concerts, which are normally in the 110-decibel range. He tweeted this crowd reaction from the main event introduction of McGregor:
McGregor, who is never short a word or two, called out some of the number one contenders in the featherweight division in the aftermath of his win. White told media after the fight that getting to the top is a process that takes several planned steps instead of leaps. “I’d like him to relax,” said White. “I like that he’s ambitious. He just needs to relax a little bit. I love the things he says. I’m telling you, he reminds me of Ronda Rousey. Him and his visions remind me of Ronda Rousey.”
So far in his UFC career, the Dubliner has backed up the hype with solid performances in the Octagon. Brandao, an experienced fighter who won The Ultimate Fighter 14, was a step up in class for McGregor and came into the fight in top shape and extremely motivated, but the Irishman dispatched him in less than one round. Check out McGregor talking to Ariel Helwani after the fight about what he wants so do next:
