Conor McGregor: UFC's "Notorious" superstar pushing beyond the limit
It was all over a little too soon, but as far as the wild-eyed victor was concerned it had ended bang on time. What many had perceived as unfounded arrogance in the lead-up to the fight was now admissible as evidence of just how much of a master craftsman the tattooed talisman was.
A mere 13 seconds had elapsed since the first round had begun to much fanfare but Jose Aldo could never have been ready for the ferocity of the knockout punch that was about to be unleashed by “The Notorious” Conor McGregor. If the MGM Grand Garden Arena was a courthouse, McGregor was the illustrious attorney laying down the law for all to witness – and he was doing so with searing tenacity and conviction.
Invading Aldo's personal space with the violent persistence of a spit fighter jet, the soon-to-be-champion came at him with everything he had and more. Flooring “Scarface” with a solid left hook to the side of the face, the duel ended in spectacularly quick fashion, and what made it all the more impressive was that McGregor had predicted it all with a chilling air of certainty.
The seemingly unbreakable Jose Aldo, who had lost once before this particular bout back in 2005, was left reeling like never before and it had all been at the hands of UFC's biggest, self-styled, hype machine. Blood aside, it all left a nasty taste in Aldo's mouth – after all, this was a fight that had been months in the making and was billed as one of the most anticipated events the sport had ever set up.
On December 12, 2015, there had been a belt on the line and McGregor had taken it with both fists pummelling his way to a rapid victory.
Fast forward a few months and, though there’s no belt, the Dublin native has his sights set on making his mark on the welterweight division in a brawl against Nate Diaz.
Refreshing simplicity or complex conditioning?
Super-hero or super-villain? McGregor might not fall neatly into either one of these categories, but he's certainly captivating the general public with feats of extraordinary physical prowess like someone from a Marvel Comics blockbuster movie.
Love him or hate him, there's simply no ignoring him; that's generally been the over-riding consensus ever since the Irish man started turning heads in the MMA world when he was only 19 years of age.
Coming of age in a recession-hit Ireland was surely a motivating factor in his rise to the top, and although he's already made megabucks (and a name for himself) that burning desire is blazing as powerfully as ever before.
On the one hand, his fans love his open bravado, his emphatic confidence and his super-machismo while on the other side, many despise him for having stolen the limelight from seasoned colleagues, for speaking his mind like no-one else in the sport and for gloating about being better than the rest.
His ability borders on the superhuman and although his physical brilliance has obviously been a major part of his rise from obscurity to stardom, his psychological genius has also seen him steal the headlines. Some say his swagger is a mask he wears to rile opponents, to get under their skin and to give him an upper hand away from the intensity of fight night. If this is true, it's an intelligent ploy.
Of course, the man himself denies it's all an act and has repeatedly stated that he is simply being himself. Nevertheless, it's tempting to believe otherwise. After all, here is a man who emphasizes just how hard he works day in, day out to be the best in the business.
He prides himself on his capacity to push beyond the normal limits, to call the gym his home and to achieve objectives that would ordinarily seem crazy for most to even dream. So, it makes sense that he would develop and hone another skin to live in, a pseudo-persona to dive into when he needs it most.
It might very well be fantasy meets drama but the enormity of the situations he faces on a regular basis calls for some sort of comfortable cocoon to inhabit. They say that when the going gets tough, the tough get going but it makes just as much sense to suggest that when trying situations present themselves, the tough get comfortable.
Who else could flaunt their success in the most casually antagonistic of ways, as he often does on Twitter:
Brunch in the Rolls. pic.twitter.com/4Kv75ppXN0
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 4, 2016
Getting to the bottom of the McGregor enigma is not an enviable task. One's time would probably be better spent trying to figure out who the Zodiac killer is, quite frankly. Nevertheless, it's an immensely fascinating aspect to his showmanship and one that has undeniably enabled him to break through the physical and psychological barriers set in his way.
He's one of the biggest, most brash and in-your-face fighters on the MMA circuit and he has undoubtedly worked incredibly hard to get to where he is. Nevertheless, many are speculating about his downfall ahead of his massive UFC 196 welterweight bout against Nate Diaz.