<p>Conor McGregor made a triumphant return to the UFC octagon on Saturday, pummelling Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone for a technical knockout victory in just 40 seconds.</p>.<p>The mixed martial arts superstar from Ireland -- returning to the Ultimate Fighting Championship for the first time since he was battered into submission by arch-rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018 -- overpowered his American foe without ever being tested.</p>.<p>After missing with a first punch, McGregor immediately bloodied a clinching Cerrone's nose with an upward shoulder strike -- quickly followed by another.</p>.<p>As soon as Cerrone stepped back, McGregor caught him on the jaw with a high kick, then buried him under a hail of punches.</p>.<p>Referee Herb Dean stepped in to call a halt to the welterweight bout 40 seconds into the first round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.</p>.<p>McGregor took his record to 22-4 with his first UFC victory since 2016, when he stopped Eddie Alvarez in a lightweight title fight to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold two championship belts at the same time.</p>.<p>That triumph was followed by a loss to boxing great Floyd Mayweather in a cross-combat superfight in 2017, his loss to Nurmagomedov, announcements of retirements and returns to fighting and brushes with authorities outside the octagon.</p>.<p>He pleaded guilty to hitting a man in a bar in Ireland and was accused of smashing a fan's phone in Florida.</p>.<p>The New York Times reported he is the subject of two alleged sexual assault investigations in Ireland.</p>.<p>Nevertheless, he remains the most popular fighter in UFC history, and his return brought out stars including British heavyweight Tyson Fury and New England Patriots superstar quarterback Tom Brady for the sold-out show.</p>.<p>In Cerrone McGregor faced an experienced veteran whose 36 wins included the most knockouts (20) in UFC.</p>.<p>Although there was no title at stake, McGregor said the outcome was a harbinger of things to come.</p>.<p>"I like this (welterweight) division," he said. "I feel really good. I came out of here unscathed. I've got work to do to get back to where I was."</p>.<p>And while the UFC has stripped him of titles before, McGregor noted they can never take away the fact that he has posted knockouts in three divisions -- featherweight, lightweight and welterweight.</p>.<p>"Etch my name in the history books one more time," he said.</p>
<p>Conor McGregor made a triumphant return to the UFC octagon on Saturday, pummelling Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone for a technical knockout victory in just 40 seconds.</p>.<p>The mixed martial arts superstar from Ireland -- returning to the Ultimate Fighting Championship for the first time since he was battered into submission by arch-rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018 -- overpowered his American foe without ever being tested.</p>.<p>After missing with a first punch, McGregor immediately bloodied a clinching Cerrone's nose with an upward shoulder strike -- quickly followed by another.</p>.<p>As soon as Cerrone stepped back, McGregor caught him on the jaw with a high kick, then buried him under a hail of punches.</p>.<p>Referee Herb Dean stepped in to call a halt to the welterweight bout 40 seconds into the first round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.</p>.<p>McGregor took his record to 22-4 with his first UFC victory since 2016, when he stopped Eddie Alvarez in a lightweight title fight to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold two championship belts at the same time.</p>.<p>That triumph was followed by a loss to boxing great Floyd Mayweather in a cross-combat superfight in 2017, his loss to Nurmagomedov, announcements of retirements and returns to fighting and brushes with authorities outside the octagon.</p>.<p>He pleaded guilty to hitting a man in a bar in Ireland and was accused of smashing a fan's phone in Florida.</p>.<p>The New York Times reported he is the subject of two alleged sexual assault investigations in Ireland.</p>.<p>Nevertheless, he remains the most popular fighter in UFC history, and his return brought out stars including British heavyweight Tyson Fury and New England Patriots superstar quarterback Tom Brady for the sold-out show.</p>.<p>In Cerrone McGregor faced an experienced veteran whose 36 wins included the most knockouts (20) in UFC.</p>.<p>Although there was no title at stake, McGregor said the outcome was a harbinger of things to come.</p>.<p>"I like this (welterweight) division," he said. "I feel really good. I came out of here unscathed. I've got work to do to get back to where I was."</p>.<p>And while the UFC has stripped him of titles before, McGregor noted they can never take away the fact that he has posted knockouts in three divisions -- featherweight, lightweight and welterweight.</p>.<p>"Etch my name in the history books one more time," he said.</p>