Okay, let me tell you about watching that whole Conor McGregor two-belts thing unfold. It wasn’t like I planned to follow it so closely, it just sort of happened.
Getting Hooked
First, you just started hearing the name everywhere, right? Conor McGregor. Irish guy, loud mouth, knocking people out. I remember watching some of his early UFC fights. He had this presence, you know? Different. I wasn’t a die-hard MMA fan back then, but his fights? I made sure to catch them. He fought Jose Aldo for the featherweight belt. Man, the build-up was crazy. Aldo was unbeaten for ages. Everyone was talking, debating. Could this loud guy actually beat the king?
I remember sitting down to watch that one. Heart pounding a bit, not gonna lie. And then? BAM! Thirteen seconds. Thirteen! I jumped outta my seat. Couldn’t believe it. He did exactly what he said he’d do. That’s when I really thought, okay, this guy is something else. He had the featherweight belt.
The Two-Belt Chase
So, he’s the champ. But almost immediately, the talk started. He wanted another belt. The lightweight one. People were split. Some thought, “No way, he’s biting off more than he can chew.” Others were like, “If anyone can, it’s him.” I was just fascinated. It felt like watching history potentially being made. You don’t see fighters even attempt that kind of thing often, let alone pull it off.
He was booked to fight Rafael dos Anjos originally, I think? But RDA got injured. So Nate Diaz stepped in, and that whole thing was a detour. Two crazy fights with Diaz. Lost the first, won the second. That just added to the drama. Could he still go for the lightweight belt after that?
Making History at MSG
Then they announced it. Eddie Alvarez, the lightweight champ, at Madison Square Garden. UFC’s first event in New York City. The hype was off the charts. I followed all the press conferences, the trash talk. Alvarez was tough, a grinder. McGregor was doing his usual prediction stuff. You just had to tune in.
Fight night came. UFC 205. Huge card. I got myself set up, ready for the main event. When McGregor walked out, the place erupted. You could feel the energy even through the screen. The fight started, and honestly? McGregor looked incredible. So sharp, so precise. His striking was just on another level that night. He dropped Alvarez multiple times. When he got the finish in the second round, it wasn’t even surprising at that point, he looked that good.
And then came the moment. Bruce Buffer shouting “AND NEW!” McGregor grabs the mic, famously asks “Where’s my second belt?”. They bring it out. Seeing him standing there, a belt on each shoulder… that was the image. That’s what it was all about. First time in UFC history.
- Featherweight Champion.
- Lightweight Champion.
- Simultaneously.
Thinking back, it was just wild to witness. The confidence, the performances, culminating in that iconic moment with two belts draped over him. Didn’t last forever, obviously, belts get stripped, fighters move on. But watching that specific run, culminating in him holding both titles? Yeah, that was quite the ride to follow as a fan. Definitely something I remember vividly.
