LAS VEGAS — The most polarizing figure in combat sports today did his biggest talking in the ring.
Brash Conor McGregor (19-2) of Dublin, Ireland, who became a superstar by trash talking his opponents outside the Octagon and getting the job done inside, saved his best moment for last, as he knocked out longtime champion Jose Aldo Jr. of Manaus, Brazil, in just 13 seconds, and claimed his UFC featherweight title on Saturday night at MGM Garden Arena.
McGregor caught a charging Aldo flush on the jaw with his left hand in the main event of UFC 194 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, then landed a pair of hammerfists to the grounded fighter before the bout was waved off.
“No power, just precision,” said McGregor, who won his 15th straight fight. “No speed, just timing. That’s all it takes, especially when you have my left hand. Nothing can take that left hand.”
Aldo (22-2), who had been champion since winning what was then called the World Extreme Cagefighting belt in November 2009, had an 18-fight win streak snapped and lost for the first time since 2005.
“I threw a punch and he came back with another cross and that was it,” said Aldo. “I think we need a rematch, it wasn’t a fight.”
Another strong performance came from Luke Rockhold of Santa Cruz, California, who stunned previously unbeaten Chris Weidman of Long Island, New York, to claim the middleweight title.
Rockhold battered Weidman (13-1) for the better part of four rounds before it was finally waved off at 3:12 of the fourth round.
Rockhold used a mix of punishing body kicks, slick submission attempts, and violent punches and elbows to wear down Weidman and claim the belt.
“This is what I’ve been working for,” said Rockhold (15-2). “I still can’t believe this is real.”
Weidman had been champion since he defeated Anderson Silva at UFC 162 in July, 2013.
The next middleweight title contender was also determined on Saturday. South Florida transplant Yoel Romero (11-1), who won an Olympic silver wrestling medal for Cuba in 2000, started fast and held on late against former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo Souza (22-4, 1 no-contest) of Brazil.
Romero nearly finished the fight with a spinning back fist in the opening round. Souza barely got through the round. After a tight second round, Souza dominated the third, but likewise couldn’t finish the fight.
The judges saw it 29-27, 28-29, and 29-28 in favor of Romero for a split decision.
“I have great respect for Souza,” said Romero. “I hit him and he took it. He’s a strong man.”
Iceland’s Gunnar Nelson (14-2-1), a jiu-jitsu specialist, called out fellow grappler Demian Maia (22-7) of Brazil for a fight. Turns out Nelson got more than he asked for. The 38-year-old Maia had too many tricks up his sleeve, as he schooled Nelson in a welterweight battle of black belts.
The judges’ scores were 30-26, 30-25, and 30-25 after Maia spent 15 minutes using sweeps, trips, mounts, and submission attempts and made Nelson look like a rank amateur.
“I believe in my jiu-jitsu,” said Maia, who has won four consecutive bouts. “I come to grapple. Gunnar Nelson asked for this fight and I came ready to fight.”
Hawaii’s Max Holloway (15-3) scored his eighth consecutive victory in a one-sided decision against Jeremy Stephens (24-12) of San Diego. Holloway, a rising featherweight contender, used his reach advantage to stay out of range of the heavy-handed Holloway over the first two rounds, then went for broke in the third. While he didn’t get a finish, he still earned scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28 for a unanimous decision.
“That wasn’t my greatest performance, he hit harder than I thought he would,” said Holloway, whose last loss was to McGregor in 2013. “I want McGregor-Holloway 2.”
In the top undercard bout, the sport’s first featherweight star, Sacramento’s Urijah Faber (33-8), proved he still has it in an exciting win over Frankie Saenz (11-3) of Scottsdale, Arizona.
The 36-year old Faber and the underrated Saenz went tooth and nail from the standup to the mat and back before Faber got the nod from the judges. The scores were a pair of 29-28s and 30-27 in favor of Faber, who won for the third time in his past four fights.