McGregor vs. Mayweather: Boxer Punches The Snot Out Of MMA Champ

LAS VEGAS, NV — Floyd Mayweather beat "The Notorious" Conor McGregor in the 10th round by technical knockout in their much-hyped, big-payday fight Saturday night, literally beating the snot out of the mixed martial arts fighter. After the fight, his 50th victory, the undefeated Mayweather announced his retirement.

McGregor made a strong showing in the early rounds, giving hope to many an MMA fan, but Mayweather used the time to figure out his opponent's style and tactics, then pummeled McGregor until the referee stopped the fight a little more than one minute into the 10th round. Mayweather earned about $200 million for this bout. McGregor, the UFC fighter who wasn't expected to last 10 rounds in the eyes of boxing experts, reportedly will earn $100 million for his losing but vaunted effort.

"I think we gave the fans what they wanted to see," Mayweather said.

Shortly after the fight ended, sports channels and Twitter were lighting up with the definitive photograph of the bout — Mayweather landing a heavy blow on McGregor's cheek, snot flying from his nose.

McGregor, who brought a 21-3 mixed-martial arts record into the ring, was stunned and stumbling at the end, unable to lift his arms to fend off the concrete hammer punches Mayweather thrust at his head. McGregor wanted more time. Mayweather never knocked him down, though clearly McGregor couldn't defend himself by the time the ref called the bout. He seemed fatigued and looked as if he'd run out of steam.

"I just think the stoppage was a little early. Let me go out on me shield. Let me go down," McGregor said in post-fight comments from the locker room. He also praised Mayweather. "In a way, I'm happy for him. ... Hats off to him."

The judges scored most rounds in Mayweather's favor, too, and the three judges' scorecards overwhelmingly favored the boxing champ: 89-81, 89-81 and 87-83. The fight was set to go 12 rounds.

"This is my last fight, ladies and gentlemen," Mayweather said when all was said and done. "Last fight, absolutely. ... I'm an old man, and I'm retired now."

This was McGregor's first professional boxing match, and the fight was hyped like no other in recent memory. McGregor flapped his gums mightily before the fight. Even Sylvester Stallone could not have written "Rocky" dialogue the likes of which McGregor spouted in his pre-bout promotional turns.

"He's got little legs and little hands. I'm going to knock him out inside of four rounds. Mark my words," McGregor said of Mayweather. "Floyd will be unconscious inside of four rounds. The power and ferociousness that I have, he's never experienced it before. I don't fear him."

And: "One shot is all it takes. Check the facts, I bounce heads off the canvas."

Neither man bounced a head off the canvas, but both landed some heavy blows. Mayweather, who hadn't gotten into the ring for a sanctioned bout in more than 700 days, landed more: Mayweather outpunched McGregor 170 to 111.

The bout gave hope to all fans of bloody cage matches that a smash-mouth tough guy could beat a practitioner of the sweet science. Boxing fans, however, gave McGregor no chance. So many fans were ordering up the pay-per-view that the start of the fight was delayed. Bars and taverns showing the fight for a cover charge were packed, and gawking crowds were left outside to peer through windows.

Even in defeat, however, McGregor seems to come out a winner. He will pocket big bucks. He went 10 rounds with one of the best boxers in modern history, and he earned grudging admiration from boxing aficionados and Mayweather himself.

"He's a lot better than I thought he'd be," Mayweather said. "He's a tough competitor, but I was the better man tonight."

McGregor was in high spirits after the fight.

"The boxing game is a lot different from the mixed martial arts game," McGregor said in a press conference at the T Mobile Arena. "It was an honor for me to come out here ... and showcase my skill."

He took aim at his critics, too.

"I was a little bit taken aback by the disrespect and disregard I was shown."

A lot of money was wagered on this fight, with 82 percent of the bets landing on Mayweather.

Even Mayweather wagered on the fight. At least that's what he said in his post-fight interview on ESPN Sportscenter. Mayweather, who was a 5-1 favorite, said he sent a friend to a casino to bet on his victory.

"I went to go bet $400,000 and they didn't let me bet at a casino that I went to because they said I was the promoter," he told ESPN. "So I gave my friend $400,000 to go bet. They would only let him bet $87,000."