In January 2020, Conor McGregor made his long-awaited return to the octagon following his loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov and finished Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds. After the bout, a member of Cerrone's corner approached McGregor and asked for a selfie, but the Irishman refused three times.
Conor McGregor returned to the octagon at UFC 246 in January 2020 and needed just 40 seconds to stop Donald Cerrone, a finish that made headlines both inside and outside the cage. In an unexpected postfight moment, a member of Cerrone's corner approached McGregor and asked for a selfie — a request the Irishman declined on three separate occasions.
McGregor, now 37, carries a professional record of 22-6-0 and competes out of SBG Ireland as a southpaw standing five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach. Among the most active strikers in the sport, he lands 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. The UFC 246 bout marked his first appearance since suffering a fourth-round submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov, a man who retired undefeated at 29-0-0 and remains one of the defining opponents of McGregor's career.
Cerrone, known throughout the sport as "Cowboy," entered that night with one of the deepest resumes in UFC history. The 43-year-old American, who stands six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach, holds a record of 36-17-0 and has consistently ranked among the more active and durable fighters in the welterweight and lightweight divisions. He averages 4.41 significant strikes landed per minute and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, reflecting the well-rounded style that made him a perennial contender for years.
Why it matters
- The 40-second finish was one of the fastest in McGregor's career and announced his return in emphatic fashion
- The postfight selfie refusal added an unusual human-interest angle to what was already a dominant performance
- Cerrone's corner making the request underscored McGregor's enduring star power even in an opponent's camp
