When Conor McGregor hoisted that second belt over his shoulder and sat perched on the edge of the octagon with a massive grin, you got the sense that it was meant to be.
He'd been there before, eyes of the world on him, as many hoping he would crash and burn as there were who hoped he would do what he said he would do. And he delivered. Again.
Oddly enough, despite nobody having ever achieved what he has in the octagon, the feeling was familiar for Conor McGregor's fans. The Diaz fights aside, every Conor McGregor performance has been light work, light work that has come after weeks of those who want to see him fail building his opposition up to be the one that could cause a problem.
It has never worked out that way. Until Conor stands opposite an opponent we won't know how it's going to go (despite him regularly telling us) but within 45 seconds it became very clear that Eddie Alvarez had no idea what he had gotten himself into.
McGregor's first meaningful exchange put Eddie down, and when he got back up, his eyes were wider than a deer that had been caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. It was only a matter of time.
In typical fashion, the job was finished as predicted, in the second round. Again this feeling was familiar for McGregor's fans, but what would not have been familiar was the reaction to it. Let's take a look back at Conor's recent fight history, and what was said by those who wished to belittle his achievements along the way.
Diego Brandao, Dustin Poirier, and Denis Siver:
All of these opponents were not a real test. They were cans, thrown to McGregor in order to fast track him towards a title. Fights that could build him up to look good so as to lock in PPV buys when he finally fights Aldo.
Poirier and Siver went down too easy, Conor didn't even connect properly.
He has never been tested, as soon as he comes up against a wrestler, it's game over.
Chad Mendes:
Mendes was the wrestler that those who wanted to see McGregor halted were crying out for, and it was going to plan until McGregor got to his feet in the second round and let his hands go.
But... He took the fight on two weeks notice. Chad didn't have the gas, and against a properly conditioned fighter it would have been a different story.
It doesn't matter, because Aldo is finally going to show McGregor up for what he really is.
Jose Aldo:
It wasn't a fight.
McGregor landed a lucky punch, an immediate rematch is needed so Jose can show what he is really made of.
Nate Diaz:
It was a fix. Nate won that fight. And besides, Nate already beat McGregor and now that he had a chance to do a full camp preparing for the rematch he couldn't knock him out!
Eddie Alvarez is going to kill him at 155.
There has always been something.
It's understandable that many don't like the persona he displays when he has a fight coming up, and it's natural that a large portion of UFC fans don't want to see him succeed, but finally, for the first time in his career, McGregor is waking up to nothing but praise.
There are no excuses being made for Eddie Alvarez.
There was no moment of doubt, Eddie didn't pose a single threat, there was no issue with the weight cut, both men were in prime condition, there was no "controversy" like hitting the back of Poirier's head, or "running away" from Nate Diaz, the finish was absolutely irresistible.
This is unchartered territory for McGregor and his fans.
All that is left after UFC 205 is admiration for a complete demolition job that Conor McGregor did on one of the best fighters in the organisation at what looks like his true weight class.
All that is left is Khabib.
For the few who are still, somehow, trying to begrudge McGregor his achievements, there remains a highly skilled Russian fighter who ate his opponent alive hours before McGregor took centre stage.
But the tweets and statuses claiming that the next fight will be the one to "prove Santa isn't real" are far, far, lower than at any stage in the past. It seems clear that those who were quick to champion Chad Mendes, Jose Aldo, Nate Diaz for the rematch, and Eddie Alvarez, are far, far less vocal about Khabib being to finally expose the Irishman.
And that in itself is ironic, as Khabib genuinely does bring something different to the table, an unknown for Conor, and wrestling that very few other than Brock Lesnar can replicate, but after betting against McGregor and being wrong so many times, it's just not worth it anymore.
Santa Claus is real.
