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McGregor and Holloway. UFC

McGregor dominates in Boston to record another UFC victory

The Irish MMA fighter overcame Max Holloway by unanimous decision on his US debut.

IRELAND’S CONOR MCGREGOR has won his second UFC bout by unanimous decision.

The featherweight fighter recorded victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) thanks to a dominant performance and despite picking up a knee injury midway through the second round.

McGregor received a warm reception upon walking out at TD Garden to Dropkick Murphys’ ‘I’m Shipping Up To Boston’ and clearly had the crowd on his side in a city with a large Irish contingent.

Regarded as favourite going into the fight, he began confidently – throwing a combination of straight punches and different styles of kicks at Hawaiian opponent Max Holloway and landing several along the way.

The second round started in a similar vein with Holloway unable to deal with McGregor’s powerful strikes but he then changed up his gameplan and used a series of takedowns as the pair battled on the floor. Afterwards, he revealed the move was due to a knee injury.

“I wanted to keep it standing and put him away,” said McGregor. “In the second round I caught a kick, tried to advance past his half-guard and he caught my leg in an awkward position. He bridge-and-rolled, and my whole knee just popped out.

When we stood back up, I was wobbly on it so I had to look for the takedown. I’m not happy I didn’t get the finish but this support is unreal. I’m lost for words.

“I knew Max was a great competitor and I knew he would give me great exchanges. When I got that injury, (I thought) you must improvise, adapt and overcome, because anything can happen inside this Octagon.”

He also tweeted:

While this win will not send shockwaves around the sport in the way that his TKO against Marcus Brimage did back in April, McGregor was impressive yet again and his stock continues to rise.

Watch the post-fight interview below:

As it happened: Conor McGregor’s second UFC fight against Max Holloway

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    Mute Nelly
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    Aug 18th 2013, 2:10 AM

    Thata boy good to see he’s flying the tri colour proudly in the US

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    Mute Shayno ZO
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    Aug 18th 2013, 11:21 AM
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    Mute Goebong
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    Aug 18th 2013, 11:30 AM

    Another band wagon
    People know nothing about fighting
    “Come on Ireland” morons !!!

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    Mute jason bourne
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    Aug 18th 2013, 12:11 PM

    Big deal if people don’t know much about it. They want to support one of their own, whatever the sport, and that is admirable.

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    Mute A.G
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    Aug 18th 2013, 12:13 PM

    Why is everything new a “band wagon” to some people?
    If you don’t appreciate something “you just don’t understand”. If you suddenly find an interest you’re “jumping on the band wagon”.

    Just can’t win with some people!

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    Mute Goebong
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    Aug 18th 2013, 12:18 PM

    Because you “suddenly find an interest ” when people are winning then ignore them when they loose that’s my problem with bandwagons we are getting as bad as the Brits

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    Mute A.G
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    Aug 18th 2013, 12:41 PM

    How does one begin to support a sportsman/woman if they’ve no idea he/she even exits?.

    If he wasn’t good enough to be where he is now, not many would know of him, so people can hardly be blamed for not supporting him.. This guy is obviously good, a talented guy clearly being highlighted for being good at what he does. So people now know who he is, and want to support him. I don’t see a problem with that.

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    Mute Bus driver
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    Aug 18th 2013, 5:37 PM

    Theirs always 1 arsehole goebong your the winner

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    Mute Vinny Doc
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    Aug 18th 2013, 2:51 AM

    Jason I don’t know much about UFC but what I do know is Mike Tyson was cocky, Ali was cocky, Alex ferguson was cocky and arrogant, mourinho cocky and arrogant. In sport, especially it seems like UFC or boxing you need to be arrogant and cocky to reach the top. Fair play to him, any man that stands up there and displays the tricolour and be proud of it, whether its walking or ping pong, deserves all the good that comes to him!

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    Mute Bobby Sheehy
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    Aug 18th 2013, 2:55 AM

    They started to become cocky when they were on top!!!!

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    Mute DashRiprock
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    Aug 18th 2013, 4:27 AM

    Every single one of them was confident/cocky/arrogant from the get-go and every single one of them know its an almost embarrassing amount of self belief is what it takes to succeed . “There isn’t no f*cking opponent, there’s only you against yourself” as mcgregor would say.

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    Mute Colm Buckley
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    Aug 18th 2013, 2:34 AM

    Very good fighter,hope he stays grounded & focused still long road ahead for him,because that was only prelims! But he deserves all the hype seems like nice fella! C’mon IRELAND

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    Mute Martin Cavlan
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    Aug 18th 2013, 2:11 AM

    Well done, didn’t notice injury

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    Mute Bobby Sheehy
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    Aug 18th 2013, 2:36 AM

    Either did I, was surprised he started taking holloway down as he was so dominate on his feet. All explained by the knee injury. But honestly want a far higher class opponent to see what he is really made of.

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    Mute ger power1
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    Aug 18th 2013, 3:52 AM

    Bobby you muppet !

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    Mute Captain Bumhum
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    Aug 18th 2013, 1:06 PM

    Holloway was an excellent opponent. Yeah, he’s not top tier ….. yet ….. But he is by no means a walkover. Before the knee injury mcgregor controlled the distance brilliantly with his front kicks. Everybody saying we can’t judge mcgregor til he fights better competition but holloway is a great fighter and he simply looked lost against mcgregor. I’ve never seen holloway look like he hadnt a clue what to do next. Mcgregor made holloway look like a much lesser fighter and seemed to do it with ease. I think it’s fairly safe to say at this point that mcgregor has arrived and he’s legit. It’s incredible what he’s done if you really think about it. To be at that level coming from a country where mma is not well known and doesn’t exactly have top tier facilities is truly inspirational. He deserves way more recognition from the Irish media. Fair play to the journal for making this article. Watch mma in ireland explode in ireland as mcgregor continues on his path. Amazing stuff.

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    Mute Laura O'Sullivan
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    Aug 18th 2013, 2:58 AM

    Crowd support was amazing, surely spurred him on. Never noticed any knee injury either. Onwards and upwards for him. Fair play.

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    Mute Jason Roycroft
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    Aug 18th 2013, 2:26 AM

    Either did I see the knee injury. I didn’t like the way he always put his hands up every time he got hit. Thought it was a bit cocky but really delighted for him. He seems like a really nice fellow. Hope he does well for himself.

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    Mute Bobby Sheehy
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    Aug 18th 2013, 2:46 AM

    Anderson silva tactics!!! Don’t know is he good enough for the likes of that yet. But we all saw what happened silva in the last fight!!!!! No need for it.

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    Mute Stephen Doyle
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    Aug 18th 2013, 3:28 AM

    Yeah was dreading the sucker punch but he got away with it. Might not be so lucky against the next guy

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    Mute Captain Bumhum
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    Aug 18th 2013, 1:11 PM

    ***sigh***

    That’s about all that comment deserves. Wouldn’t dignify it with an intelligent response.

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    Mute Eoghain Kenneally
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    Aug 18th 2013, 9:36 AM

    For anyone that hasn’t watched the post event press conference do, McGregor is a funny man

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    Mute Tom Rooney
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    Aug 18th 2013, 12:21 PM

    Most of the clowns making negative comments on this fight never actually had a fight in their lives, if you could do what Connor can do you would be cocky too. He has every right to believe in himself 100%, he has earned that right through blood sweat and tears. He has fought his was to the pinnacle of the mixed martial arts game (UFC) and hopefully he will remain there for a long, stop begrudging the guy and show some support for a fellow Irish man who is doing himself and the country proud.

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    Mute Mike Spillane
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    Aug 18th 2013, 6:24 PM

    Well said, the fella’s a credit to us. Some character.

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    Mute MasterMockMan
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    Aug 18th 2013, 9:16 AM

    Good man snotser

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    Mute Marty O'Meara
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    Aug 18th 2013, 9:12 AM

    King of a man !!!!

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    Mute Arthur Callaghan
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    Aug 18th 2013, 11:11 AM

    up the Irish. wish you all the luck in the world :)

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    Mute Tadhg Luby
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    Aug 19th 2013, 7:19 PM

    Great performance, McG completely dominated Holloway, great control on the ground too.

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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Aug 18th 2013, 12:22 PM

    Maybe he still wears that invisible Man Utd jersey to help him win.

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