McGregor gets his shot at the title, but not in Croker

Conor McGregor, after defeating Dennis Siver in the second round of their bout. UFC Fight Night, Conor McGregor v Dennis Siver, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE

18 January 2015; Conor McGregor, left, in action against Dennis Siver. UFC Fight Night, Conor McGregor v Dennis Siver, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE

18 January 2015; Conor McGregor, right, in action against Dennis Siver. UFC Fight Night, Conor McGregor v Dennis Siver, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE

18 January 2015; Conor McGregor, left, in action against Dennis Siver. UFC Fight Night, Conor McGregor v Dennis Siver, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE

thumbnail: Conor McGregor, after defeating Dennis Siver in the second round of their bout. UFC Fight Night, Conor McGregor v Dennis Siver, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
thumbnail: 18 January 2015; Conor McGregor, left, in action against Dennis Siver. UFC Fight Night, Conor McGregor v Dennis Siver, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
thumbnail: 18 January 2015; Conor McGregor, right, in action against Dennis Siver. UFC Fight Night, Conor McGregor v Dennis Siver, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
thumbnail: 18 January 2015; Conor McGregor, left, in action against Dennis Siver. UFC Fight Night, Conor McGregor v Dennis Siver, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
By Cormac McQuinn

IN THE end all it took was two rounds for Dublin's own Ultimate Fighting star 'The Notorious' Conor McGregor to obliterate his opponent Denis Siver and secure a world title shot.

Hometown fans will be disappointed that the 26-year-old won't be facing off against reigning featherweight UFC champ Jose Aldo in Croke Park as he had hoped.

But McGregor wasn't letting it get him down in his hour of triumph, calling out Brazilian fighter Aldo and setting the scene for a titanic clash in Las Vegas in May.

"I a bring it back to me when I win," he said after last night's fight in Boston.

Aldo had arrived at the arena dressed as a king with a placard with McGregor's face on it saying: "Go Joker, Go ...Make me laugh #AldoKing."

He declined to join McGregor for a "chat" in the octagon with the Dubliner responding to the snub saying: "He is gone, he's gone. He's gone back to Brazil with that spit bucket.

"He is one of them, he is one of them that is saying it's all talk. It's not all talk, I am going to wipe out everyone in this division. I said that and I will do it," McGregor boasted.

The Crumlin man's parents Margaret and Tony, niece Taylor and his girlfriend Dee Devlin were on hand to watch him despatch German fighter Siver with punch after punch to the face before the bout was stopped.

Dee's reaction to the fight on Twitter was simply "Holy sh*t!!!!"

"I said two minutes, I meant two rounds. I felt comfortable throughout, I don't think any of these pose a threat," McGregor said afterwards.

Hollywood muscle-man Arnold Schwarzenegger also took to social media to say: "Congrats to the McGregor-nator @TheNotoriousMMA on terminating another opponent. Can't wait for your world championship fight. I'll be there."

Victory

It was a good night for two other Irish fighters - Cathal Pendred who claimed victory over American Sean Spencer and Tallaght man Paddy 'The Hooligan' Holohan who comprehensively beat another American, Shane Howell.

The only dampeners on the night were Northern Irish fighter Norman Parke losing out to Brazilian Gleison Tibau and the confirmation that McGregor's title fight won't be held in Dublin.

UFC president Dana White confirmed that the fight would not take place in Ireland.

"Sorry we couldn't secure croker, we tried," McGregor's coach John Kavanagh said afterwards but added: "So who's coming to Vegas for Ireland's first UFC World Title fight?"

hnews@herald.ie