The 28-year-old Irishman secured his place in history Saturday evening, stopping Eddie Alvarez in Madison Square Garden to become the first mixed martial artist to simultaneously hold two UFC belts.

Headlining the first UFC event in New York since 1995, McGregor smoothly cut down the UFC lightweight champion as he promised he would, connecting precise left hands that felled Alvarez six times in less than two rounds. It was a superlative performance against one of the sport’s most accomplished competitors over the last 14 years.