CONOR McGREGOR proved he is more than just a left hand against Donald Cerrone… after his shoulder set up his emphatic 40 second knockout.
McGregor scored his second quickest win after stopping American veteran Cerrone, 36, in Las Vegas on his UFC return.
Conor McGregor used his now famous shoulder strike in a 2013 sparring sessionCredit: Instagram / @mcgregorlifestyle
Irish welterweight Cathal Pendred shared throwback sparring footage of The Notorious using the now infamous shoulder strikeCredit: Instagram / @mcgregorlifestyle
But The Notorious set up his win just moments after the first bell when the pair clinched and the Irishman thought on his feet to land a succession of shoulder strikes.
The unorthodox blows caused Cowboy’s nose to bleed and reactions to slow down as McGregor went on to land a stunning headkick before finishing off Cerrone on the deck.
McGregor’s shoulder strikes soon became an internet talking point – just like his ‘billy strut did’ – but the southpaw has always had it in his locker.
Irish welterweight Cathal Pendred – who had six UFC fights with four of them on Mcgregor’s undercard – shared throwback sparring footage of The Notorious using the now infamous shoulder strike.
Pendred, who had now turned to acting, captioned the post: “Sparring with @thenotoriousmma in 2013 and on the receiving end of the now infamous shoulder-bump.
“Years in the making.”
McGregor himself insisted post-fight that the inventive move in the clinch was something he has always used.
He told BT Sport: “I’ve been banging people with the shoulder for a while now.
“I caught him off guard. I knew because he kind of froze. When I hit the first one I kind of felt like it was a good connection. Yeah, it’s a good shot of mine.
“It’s a good shot in the clinch, you can really catch a man.
“I knew I caught him with the first one off guard and then I caught one or two more and when we separated the eye and the nose was busted.
“It’s a good shot. I’ve utilised that many a times in the gym.”
McGregor had Cerrone hurt after landing shoulder strikes moments into their boutCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Cerrone was knocked out in just 40 seconds by McGregorCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
