Conor McGregor Finally Admits He 'Predicted' 13-Second Knockout Of Jose Aldo

It was the moment that put Conor McGregor's name on the map.

After all the hype and relentless trash talk during the build up to UFC 194, the Irishman well and truly rose to the occasion when the cage doors slammed shut and knocked out featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

And he did so within 13 seconds too.

Replays of the devastating left hand that connected on Aldo's jaw have been viewed by millions of mixed martial arts fans around the globe.

But it was a video that emerged shortly after the bout that really got everyone interested.

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In the aftermath of the quickest knockout in UFC title fight history, footage surfaced online showing McGregor warming up in the locker room before the bout.

In the clip, which is clearly taken from a camera wedged in the corner of the dressing room, you can see him practising combinations.

And more specifically, you can see McGregor practicing landing a left hand while on the back foot - the exact move he caught Aldo with on that infamous night back in December of 2015.

Since then, McGregor's career has well and truly taken off.

And while he probably acknowledges the magnitude of that Aldo fight and its role in shaping him into the UFC megastar he is today, it seems the 32-year-old has never referenced or credited that original clip of him practicing in the locker room.

Until now.

To mark the five-year anniversary since his devastating 13-second finish, McGregor took to social media.

And for the first time ever, he posted a video of the two clips (of the knockout itself and the dressing room warm-up) side-by-side.

And when watching the two together, it's hard to deny that McGregor wasn't planning on implementing the move during the fight - even if it has taken him this long to finally allude to the infamous video.

"5 years ago today! Wow," he said in the caption.

"Unified UFC featherweight World champion! I worked so hard for it, I was able to predict exactly how it would happen! Thank you for all the kind messages."

Even prior to the bout, long before the famous knockout itself, the man simply known as "Mystic Mac" predicted that Aldo would "over-extend" his right hand as a result of the mental warfare he had endured at the hands (or mouth) of McGregor.

"I felt when we stared down, I felt his right hand was twitching, which was a subtle tell for me," the Irishman told media in a press conference just days before the fight.

"He's ready to unload that right hand and I feel that could be a downfall for him. If he lets that right hand go, I will not be there.

"I simply enter the way I enter and that is it. They either over-extend or they shrink away.

"Either way, it is not good for them.

"I will create traps and dead space inside that Octagon. I will walk him into that dead space. All of a sudden he will be in danger."

And boy, he wasn't wrong.

In fact, he pretty much nailed it.

We're yet to hear his prediction for his upcoming bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 in January, but if it's anything like his past prophecies then expect something bold.

Topics: Conor Mcgregor, MMA News, UFC, jose aldo, Australia, MMA

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry