UFC Fight Night 46 in Tweets: Pros react to Conor McGregor's stoppage of Diego Brandao, Ireland's wild night

In a homecoming five years in the making, the fighting Irish went a perfect 5-0, effectively blowing the roof off Dublin's O2 arena on Saturday night. But as expected, no performance left a bigger mark than Conor McGregor's. The featherweight sensation had the weight of a nation on his back, yet he passed his toughest test with flying colors, toppling Diego Brandao under a hailstorm of strikes midway through the opening frame.

Afterward McGregor told his delirious countrymen that he was going to head backstage and discuss "football stadiums and world titles" with Zuffa co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, and why not? So far everything has played out exactly as predicted by McGregor, the 26-year-old who has the potential to become a breakout star in a division desperately in need of one. First up though is likely Dustin Poirier, and you better believe "The Diamond" was watching the madness unfold along with the rest of his fellow fighters back home.

I am emotionally exhausted after watching McGregor vs. Brandao #UFCDublin

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 19, 2014

Great performance by @TheNotoriousMMA well done mate.

— michael (@bisping) July 19, 2014

When he's not talking crap about me, I kinda like the kid lol

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 19, 2014

@TheNotoriousMMA douchbag move

— uriah hall (@UriahHallMMA) July 19, 2014

What a piece of shit. #UFCFightNightDublin

— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) July 19, 2014

We gotta give it up to him. He talked like no tmw and surely backed it up. He even ate some solid shots from a tough Brandao. #UFCDublin

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMasterAljO) July 19, 2014

I really wonder where he goes from here. I doubt he cud cut the line ahead of Dennis, Mendes, and Killa Cub. #UFCDublin

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMasterAljO) July 19, 2014

Is it me or did Brandao just give up?

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) July 19, 2014

Yup Brandao shouldn't of been in there #UFCDublin #UFCFightNight

— Jim Alers (@fightJim) July 19, 2014

Brandao gave that up easier than a high school prom date. @MMARoasted

— Lance Palmer (@LancePalmer) July 19, 2014

Bradao quit... @DustinPoirier doesn't know what that means @ufc

— walt harris (@thebigticket205) July 19, 2014

And the McGregor hype train goes on!!! #UFCDublin #UFCFightNight

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) July 19, 2014

. @TheNotoriousMMA is a special talent. Good fight back from injury. #UFCDublin 5 wins As he predicted, Conor does it in Rnd 1.

— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 19, 2014

I can't wait to heal up and get back at it.

— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) July 19, 2014

law of attraction is powerful he said it he did it #UFCDublin

— Mike Wilkinson (@M_WilkinsonMMA) July 19, 2014

Well there we have it. #Impressive who next? @ufc

— Bigslow (@LukeBarnatt) July 19, 2014

Welp shit

— Ike Vallie-Flagg (@IKEVF) July 19, 2014

Give Connor a good wrestler and his hype will die quick

— Cody Bollinger (@CodyBollinger) July 19, 2014

@TheNotoriousMMA congrats man !! #UFCDublin

— Diego Brandao (@DiegoBrandaoMMA) July 19, 2014

Nice job @TheNotoriousMMA , DP you got next? @DustinPoirier

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 19, 2014

"@dc_mma: Nice job @TheNotoriousMMA , DP you got next? @DustinPoirier" I'm not impressed.

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 19, 2014

. @danawhite @seanshelby @lorenzofertitta I'm ready when you are.

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 19, 2014

UFC 178 sounds good to me.

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 19, 2014

GUNNAR NELSON VS. ZAK CUMMINGS

I think Gunnar just woke up from a nap

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 19, 2014

Just realized I stayed in a tiny ghetto pad in Hilo w @GunniNelson in 2010 while trainn w @bjpenndotcom 4 a few weeks. B4 @ufc he was a kid

— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) July 19, 2014

pic.twitter.com/5gKkN6QwWT

— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 19, 2014

nelson is slick #UFCDublin

— Mike Wilkinson (@M_WilkinsonMMA) July 19, 2014

Just a speed bump on the road to greatness for @ZakCummings! No doubt he will be back to his winning ways very soon. #UFCDublin

— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) July 19, 2014

Sick transition by Gunnar and the finish! Front headlocks all day! #UFCDublin the Silent Assassin!

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMasterAljO) July 19, 2014

Very close fight until the last minute when Zak got caught... extremely competitive fight. I had Zak up 1 round. Beautiful finish from Gunni

— Bigslow (@LukeBarnatt) July 19, 2014

Woooooooooowwww he turned the fight in 10 s #fightnightdublin @ufc @UFCONFOX @GunniNelson #Ireland

— Igor Pokrajac UFC (@igorpokrajac) July 19, 2014

Watching @ufc @UFC_FIGHTPASS , what a fights, congrats @GunniNelson for the huge victory, let's go for the main event.

— rafael natal (@rafaelsaponatal) July 19, 2014

congrats @GunniNelson for the huge victory, team @RenzoGracieBJJ

— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) July 19, 2014

Every @ufc fighter is wishing they got to fight in Dublin #fuckingELECTRIC #UFCFightNight #UFCTV

— russell doane (@RussellDoane135) July 19, 2014

IAN MCCALL VS. BRAD PICKETT

I like One Punch, but McCall seems spot on when he said he'd be too slow for him at Flywgt. #UFCDublin I think Brad needs a finish here

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMasterAljO) July 19, 2014

A smart approach from @Unclecreepymma thus far using footwork, TD's & a broken rhythm to keep Brad from landing those hard shots thru 2 rnds

— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 19, 2014

Uncle creepy has some really nice takedown transitions.

— Jared Rosholt (@JaredRosholt) July 19, 2014

Close fight, well done @One_Punch 30-27 is bullshit though

— michael (@bisping) July 19, 2014

Mcall keeps wincing, hes either very tired or hes broke something #UFCDublin

— Danny Mitchell (@DannyAranha) July 19, 2014

Uncle Creepy auditioning for American Horror story's girl stunt double! #hairtho #UFCDublin #UFCFightNight pic.twitter.com/RQBtBkQPOc

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) July 19, 2014

he said "sensual" #UFCFightNight #UFCTV

— russell doane (@RussellDoane135) July 19, 2014

Goddamn that was fun. Thank you @one_punch for being such a good man. http://t.co/S7uxNdw4W5

— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) July 19, 2014

@Unclecreepymma matey I wish you all the best in the future and hope you get that title shot

— Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) July 19, 2014

NORMAN PARKE VS. NAOYUKI KOTANI

Great work from @norman_parke what a nice guy he is as well! #UFCDublin

— Danny Mitchell (@DannyAranha) July 19, 2014

Great stoppage.

— michael (@bisping) July 19, 2014

I'm starting to think that only the US crowd "boos"! #UFCDublin #UFCFightNight

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) July 19, 2014

Get in there!!! 1st of many finishes!!! @UFC_UK @UFC_UK @IrelandUFC

— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) July 19, 2014

@norman_parke let's do it!

— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) July 19, 2014

ILIR LATIFI VS. CHRIS DEMPSEY

Dempseys leg will be toast by the end of the 1st

— Ike Vallie-Flagg (@IKEVF) July 19, 2014

Solid Swedish Power! Boooom congrats @Latifimma #UFCDublin @ufc on @UFC_FIGHTPASS

— Akira Corassani (@AkiraCorassani) July 19, 2014

Like i said, beast #UFCDublin

— Danny Mitchell (@DannyAranha) July 19, 2014

Great show of sportsmanship from @Latifimma great job.

— michael (@bisping) July 19, 2014

NEIL SEERY VS. PHIL HARRIS

I ❤️ @NeilSeeryMMA

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 19, 2014

Wow! That was slick! Def enjoyed his style and of course the Irish crowds' commentary! That arena is electric right now! #UFCDublin

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMasterAljO) July 19, 2014

This could be the best crowd ever!!! #UFCDublin #UFCFightNight

— Lorenzo Fertitta (@lorenzofertitta) July 19, 2014

I like the way seery fights!!

— Ike Vallie-Flagg (@IKEVF) July 19, 2014

This @NeilSeeryMMA is fun to watch, he'll cause problems for a lot of flyweights. Reached a bit with right hand but performance #UFCDublin

— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 19, 2014

I fucking need to fight in Ireland bolox!!

— TyroneSpong (@Tyrone_spong) July 19, 2014

During the @NeilSeeryMMA fight the crowd got to 103 decibels!!! A rock concert is 110.

— Dana White (@danawhite) July 19, 2014

CATHAL PENDRED VS. MIKE KING

That was fucking crazy!!!!!!! What a fight!!!

— Dana White (@danawhite) July 19, 2014

Cathal Pendred!!! WHAT A FUCKING WARRIOR

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 19, 2014

Great work from @PendredMMA weathered the early storm then put King to sleep. Both of em gave it all. #ballsout #UFCDublin

— Danny Mitchell (@DannyAranha) July 19, 2014

Holy shit he went out fast!

— russell doane (@RussellDoane135) July 19, 2014

That was a crazy comeback! Pretty sure the first round was 10-8! #UFCDublin #UFCFightNight

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) July 19, 2014

Wow what a scrap!

— Ike Vallie-Flagg (@IKEVF) July 19, 2014

What a comeback by @PendredMMA AND he did it in #Dublin !!! #UFCFightNight #McGregor vs #Brandao

— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 19, 2014

Boooooom pendred #UFCDublin

— Ian Enty (@ianenty_) July 19, 2014

My pick from the Prelims @PendredMMA stand out performance showing incredible heart & sending his opponent to sleep. pic.twitter.com/fZXL66HCS4

— Bigslow (@LukeBarnatt) July 19, 2014

I am so unbelievably happy!! But @danawhite ran back stage to me after the fight and I think he is actually even more excited than me!

— Cathal Pendred (@PendredMMA) July 19, 2014

PADDY HOLOHAN VS. JOSH SAMPO

THE HOOLIGAN!!!!!

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 19, 2014

Crap the crowd in Dublin is awesome

— Ike Vallie-Flagg (@IKEVF) July 19, 2014

What a character... fantastic performance by @PaddyHolohanMMA earnt his cuppa. #Long&Strong

— Bigslow (@LukeBarnatt) July 19, 2014

Nice finish @PaddyHolohanMMA

— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) July 19, 2014

Im convinced the Irish men have the best fight speeches has to be the accent. Where can I buy one of those?? Lol

— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) July 19, 2014