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Sunday 22 April 2018

Jamie Heaslip among rugby stars to pay tribute to Irish UFC fighters after clean sweep in Boston

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
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
Declan Whooley

Declan Whooley

Jamie Heaslip, Cian Healy and Peter Stringer were among those to pay tribute to the Fighting Irish after wins for Conor McGregor, Cathal Pendred and Paddy Holohan in Boston.

UFC Fight Night 59 will live long in the memory for Irish fans as Conor McGregor finally earned his world title shot with Jose Aldo after demolishing Dennis Siver in two rounds.

Bath and former Irish scrum-half Peter Stringer was one of the many up to watch the historic night, while Jamie Heaslip paid tribute to the three fighters this morning.

"Congrats, @PendredMMA and @TheNotoriousMMA representing the fighting Irish abroad. The #irishtakeover continues...@joerogan @danawhite."

Conor McGregor celebrates after defeating Dennis Siver in the second round of their bout
Conor McGregor celebrates after defeating Dennis Siver in the second round of their bout
Cathal Pendred celebrates after defeating Sean Spencer in their welterweight bout. UFC Fight Night, Cathal Pendred v Sean Spencer, TD Garden, Boston
Holohan, right, in action against Shane Howell
18 January 2015; Conor McGregor, celebrates 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
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
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
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
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
Pendred, right, in action against Sean Spencer
Cathal Pendred celebrates after defeating Sean Spencer in their welterweight bout. UFC Fight Night
Paddy Holohan celebrates his unanimous decision victory over Shane Howell following their flyweight bout
Paddy Holohan makes his way to the octagon ahead of his flyweight bout with Shane Howell
Paddy Holohan, left, in action against Shane Howell during their flyweight bout. UFC Fight Night, Paddy Holohan v Shane Howell, TD Garden, Boston
18 January 2015; Paddy Holohan celebrates his unanimous decision victory over Shane Howell following their flyweight bout. UFC Fight Night, Paddy Holohan v Shane Howell, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
Holohan, above, in action against Shane Howell during their flyweight bout. UFC Fight Night, Paddy Holohan v Shane Howell, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
Tateki Matsuda, right, in action against Joby Sanchez during their flyweight bout. UFC Fight Night, Tateki Matsuda v Joby Sanchez, TD Garden, Boston
Norman Parke, left, in action against Gleison Tibau during their lightweight bout. UFC Fight Night, Norman Parke v Gleison Tibau, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
Irish UFC fans Kristie Spencer and Paul Smith, Washington DC, ahead of Conor McGregor's fight at the TD Garden, Boston
Cathal Pendred, left, in action against Sean Spencer during their welterweight bout. UFC Fight Night, Cathal Pendred v Sean Spencer, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
18 January 2015; Paddy Holohan, above, in action against Shane Howell during their flyweight bout. UFC Fight Night, Paddy Holohan v Shane Howell, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
Family of Conor McGregor, from left, niece Taylor, girlfriend Dee Devlin, and parents Margaret and Tony at UFC Fight Night featuring Conor McGregor v Dennis Siver at the TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
18 January 2015; Paddy Holohan, left, in action against Shane Howell during their flyweight bout. UFC Fight Night, Paddy Holohan v Shane Howell, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
Matt Van Buren, right, in action against Sean O'Connell during their light heavyweight bout

Leinster team-mate Cian Healy was only able to stay up to watch his good friend Cathal Pendred earn a unanimous decision over Sean Spencer because of a fitness test before he had to call it a night.

"I can afford to stay up and watch @PendredMMA take another W but then it's bed! Big hamstring test tomorrow! I've a #return to make," he posted on his account.

In France, former Ireland international Trevor Brennan tweeted a picture of a busy bar in Toulouse waiting for the McGregor showdown with many Bath supporters in attendance after their win over the French giants in the Champions Cup.

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