The Dubliner backed up all his pre-fight talk with a TKO win over the experienced Poirier at the MGM Grand Garden Arena - a result which boosted his title credentials and earned him a $50,000 bonus for one of the UFC's Performance of the Night awards.

Poirier, the fifth-ranked featherweight, felt the force of a straight left to his head and fell to the canvas where McGregor finished the job by unloading a short flurry of punches.

Referee Herb Dean stepped in after just a minute of 46 seconds of the first round and although Poirier protested the initial grazing blow, which appeared to clip him behind the ear, McGregor was a worthy winner and now a step closer to challenging for the Championship belt.

The SBG fighter (16-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) started the contest with a series of spinning kicks, but Poirer (16-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC) landed an early left as he threw two punches and a low kick.

McGregor shook it off and connected with a left of his own before patiently working himself into a good position to catch Poirier with that decisive left hand that dropped him to the mat.

The victorious 26-year-old, who drew big cheers from the large Irish contingent in the crowd, said afterwards: "This is the new age. I wanted to come over here to America and show the American public the new era of the fighting Irish and I brought my whole country with me. If one of us goes to war, we all go to war."

Asked about his future plans, he replied: "You know what's next - that world title is next! I'm gonna fly to Brazil if they want. I'll eliminate Chad 'Mini' Mendez and step in and give the fans what they want - (current champion Jose) Aldo versus McGregor.

"Or you know we could come back and fill that football stadium (the Aviva Stadium). Come on over, we'll whup them on home soil or away soil. It's no problem."