Pros Including Nate Diaz, Justin Gaethje React to Conor McGregor’s Stunning Return at UFC 246

Conor McGregor UFC 246
Conor McGregor Credit: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press

Conor McGregor wasted no time returning to the win column in a big way at UFC 246, and his fellow fighters took notice.

Love him or hate him you will watch him. Conor McGregor proved exactly why at UFC 246. In his return to action for the first time since a crushing defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229, McGregor looked like a new fighter. With a whole new bag of tricks he used to quickly destroy the rugged Cowboy Cerrone.

Shoulder strikes appeared to have broken Cowboy’s nose after an opening McGregor left hand. The Irish star threw a flying knee. A head kick connected. Cerrone was wobbled, and McGregor went in for the kill. Ref Herb Dean gave Cowboy every opportunity to survive, but after the kick, he simply couldn’t defend himself.

Post-fight with Joe Rogan, McGregor alternated between humble and boisterous. Noting he was the first man to achieve knockouts in three weight classes in the UFC, he called out “Etch my name in history one more time! For the Irish people, for me mom back home!”

“I’ve got work to do to get back to where I was,” McGregor later admitted, saying it will be back to the gym after the victory celebration. Which will, of course, involve his Proper 12 whiskey.

McGregor will likely always be a controversial figure, but at UFC 246 in Las Vegas, for 40 seconds at least, McGregor was once again the uncrowned king of the sport.

See how the pros reacted to McGregor’s stunning defeat of Cerrone below — including rivals Nate Diaz and Justin Gaethje.

The doubters

They’re not surprised… wait, yes they are

The shoulder strikes though

Wow is right!