At UFC 205, under the roof of combat sports most iconic venue - Madison Square Garden - Conor McGregor gave what is arguably the performance of his career. The Dubliner seemed unfazed by the occasion and remained totally composed throughout his time inside the octagon.
Then there came a moment in the second round, which will forever remain an iconic image when we look back on McGregor's career. The SBG fighter put his hands behind his back and stood - totally exposed - in front of Eddie Alvarez.
Many assumed it was McGregor's way of taunting his seemingly hapless opponent. For others, it cemented his legacy as the greatest fighter in the UFC today.
Conor McGregor just put both his hands behind his back and taunted Eddie Alvarez. Wow. #UFC205
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) November 13, 2016
McGregor twice puts his hands behind his back and stands in front of Alvarez
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) November 13, 2016
In the post-fight press conference, the new lightweight champion explained his reasoning behind the apparent 'taunt';
This [his right hand] was out of action for the whole camp. That's why I develeoped that putting the hand behind my back.
I would be doing it in sparring, then I'd jar it or hit it and it would be swelling up in the middle of the rounds
I just figured out ways to fight around it.
To be honest I was icing it up until today but it's actually alright now. I'm brand new. There's not a fuckin' scratch on me
Mystic Mac. What a shot @DavidGbd pic.twitter.com/L8AbwPxK4B
— Andrew McGahon (@andrewmcgahon_) November 13, 2016
As a wise man once said, 'It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.' And if ever there was an athlete who follows said mantra, it is Conor McGregor.
