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Conor McGregor vs Cowboy: Irishman’s emphatic UFC return in 85 glorious photographs

Conor McGregor made a sensational return to the UFC when he demolished Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The Irishman had been out of action for 15 months but exploded into life from the first bell of the welterweight bout at UFC 246, charging at his opponent before bloodying his nose with several unorthodox shoulder strikes in the clinch.

McGregor then stepped back and a precision head kick high over the guard landed square on the jaw of Cerrone, who was also caught by a flying knee and crumpled to the mat as the Dubliner went for an early finish.

Cerrone was covered up as the rights and lefts rained down on him, prompting referee Herb Dean to call a halt to a brief one-sided contest within the first minute of the opening round.

"I made history here, I set another record: I'm the first fighter in UFC history to secure knockout victories at featherweight, at lightweight and now at welterweight, so I'm very, very proud of that," McGregor said in the octagon.

Take a look through the above gallery to relive one of the most emphatic performances in McGregor’s career.