McGregor (photo via UFC/ ZUFFA)

By FCF Staff

Conor McGregor repeatedly stated he was going to take out Dustin Poirier in the first round, heading into UFC 178, and after doing so, the rising featherweight earned a “Performance of the Night”.

McGregor took Poirier out with a flurry of punches shortly into their fight, and received an extra $50,000 for the “POTN” award.

The other “POTN” went to former bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz, who finished Takeya Mizugaki with a series of punches in just over one minute. Cruz was fighting for the first time since 2011.

“Fight of the Night” went to middleweights Yoel Romero and Tim Kennedy, for their thrilling back-and-forth scrap. Romero scored a third round, stoppage win in the memorable fight, but received extra time between rounds two and three after being rocked by Kennedy.

Romero needed attention from the UFC’s cut man, and after his cornermen were told to leave the Octagon, the middleweight was left sitting on his stool.

UFC 178 was hosted by the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.