A VICTORIOUS CONOR McGregor warned his UFC rivals last night that this is only the beginning of Ireland’s success in the Octagon.

McGregor lit up a sold-out O2 when he stopped Diego Brandao in the first round of the main event at UFC Fight Night Dublin.

It wrapped up a perfect five out of five for the Irish fighters following wins for Patrick Holohan, Cathal Pendred, Neil Seery and Norman Parke earlier in the evening.

And there was a sixth with McGregor’s SBG team-mate, Iceland’s Gunnar Nelson, winning by submission in the night’s penultimate bout.

“My team-mates went 3-0 tonight,” McGregor told Dan Hardy in his post-fight interview.

“Paddy ‘The Hooligan’ Holohan, a rear naked choke, absolutely beautiful.

“Cathal Pendred, an out-and-out Irish warrior. I mean you can’t beat that guy, you cannot beat him.

“Neil Seery, Gunni Nelson — phenomenal performances. I fed off that.

It was a clean sweep for the Irish. I said it last year, we’re not here just to take part – we’re here to take over!

McGregor’s emphatic win will see him rise up the featherweight rankings and the Dubliner now has his sights set on bringing the UFC back to an even bigger Irish venue.

“It would have to be something special to come over here to my hometown and take this away from me. There’s not a man alive that can come on this soil and beat me.

What’s next for me is I’m going to go backstage, sit down with [UFC CEO] Mr Lorenzo Fertitta, toast some fine-ass whiskey and talk about football stadiums next.

“Football stadiums and world titles, that’s what I want.”

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