Talking the talk - McGregor’s victory

Conor McGregor has shown himself to be one of the most extraordinary Irish athletes of all time.

Nicknamed ‘The Notorious’, the mixed martial artist knocked out Brazilian José Aldo early yesterday after just 13 seconds, in a crushing victory in Las Vegas to become the UFC featherweight world champion.

McGregor not only likes to fight but also to talk and to taunt, with opponents often on the receiving end of his verbal jousts. Last July, he accused Aldo of running from a scheduled fight and, 24 hours before the Las Vegas bout, he was at it again, needling the then champion at an explosive pre-fight clash that almost ended in blows.