Conor McGregor is gunning for his 20th MMA knockout in 2024.

The charismatic Irishman has become the sport’s biggest star by combining his wacky personality and wicked one-liners with a scary ability to knock people out.

McGregor is one of the most accomplished UFC fighters of all timeCredit: Zuffa LLC via Getty

In December 2012, ‘Notorious’ earned a call-up to Dana White’s promotion when he turned Ivan Buchinger into a statue with a brutal one-shot knockout.

The KO’s kept coming in the Octagon and ultimately led to him making history as the UFC’s first-dual weight featherweight and lightweight champion

Ahead of his return against Michael Chandler later this year, talkSPORT.com has ranked the five best KO’s McGregor has scored during his 11-year run with the MMA leader.

5. Marcus Brimage | UFC Stockholm | April 2013

McGregor burst onto the scene with a blistering 67-second win over Brimage, who entered their bout with a 6-1 record following a spell on The Ultimate Fighter.

Brimage came out aggressively, but it proved to be a huge error as McGregor pinged his signature left-hand shot off the American’s chin every time he stepped into range.

A massive uppercut-hook combination was the beginning of the end.

McGregor followed up with several more uppercuts before bundling his overmatched rival to the floor with a flurry of punches that came from all angles.

‘Notorious’ stole the show with his UFC debutCredit: Getty Images – Getty

‘Mystic Mac’ entered the fight on the dole and asked for a $60,000 bonus during his post-fight interview before going on to become the richest athlete on the planet in 2021.

Brimage lost six of his next seven bouts before retiring from MMA and bizarrely taking up professional pillow fighting – that’s actually a thing – in 2022.

4. Diego Brandao | UFC Dublin | July 2014

By July 2014, McGregor’s star power had grown enough that the UFC decided to return to the Irish capital for the first time in five years.

In the first round, the now-35-year-old cracked Diego Brandao with a spinning back kick that dropped him to one knee and signalled the beginning of the end.

Despite trying to fight fire with fire, the Brazilian found himself trapped against the fence before eating a big left-hand shot that finally floored him.

A few follow-up strikes were all referee Leon Roberts needed to see to wave off the fight and trigger wild celebrations from the Irish crowd.

Ten years later, the atmosphere at UFC Dublin is still unmatched.

McGregor possesses huge power and 19 of his 22 wins have come via knockoutCredit: Getty

3. Donald Cerrone | UFC 246 | January 2020

McGregor’s last UFC victory was rapid, ruthless and unique – Cerrone didn’t get a chance to get going before he was knocked out by MMA’s biggest star.

In his first fight in two years, McGregor quickly found himself in a clinch position and responded by hitting hit ‘Cowboy’ with a flurry of unorthodox shoulder strikes.

When they separated, it became clear that Cerrone’s eye was almost swollen shut from the close-range shots he took.

McGregor smelt blood and sensationally closed the show in just 40 seconds as he landed a massive head kick to drop his comeback opponent.

Cerrone was curled up in a ball against the fence when the referee mercifully stepped in and saved him from taking any more damage.

McGregor blitzed Cerrone in just 40 secondsCredit: Getty Images

2. Eddie Alvarez | UFC 205 | November 2016

McGregor’s peak performance came against Alvarez during a historic UFC show.

In the first-ever UFC event in New York, McGregor dropped his rival four times en route to a second-round stoppage win to become the promotion’s first dual-weight champion.

The finishing sequence was a thing of beauty as Alvarez was hit with a four-punch combination – that he didn’t seem to see coming – before taking two more strikes when he collapsed to the floor.

A truly memorable performance was topped off by McGregor’s ‘fake apology’ speech, which is regarded as one of the most iconic moments in UFC history.

McGregor put on a career-best performance at UFC 205Credit: Getty

1. Jose Aldo | UFC 194 | December 2015

Of course, McGregor’s win over Aldo tops our list of KO’s.

After months of mentally terrorising the legendary Brazillian, McGregor finally had to back up his words as a significant underdog.

Amazingly, he managed to pull off a monumental upset by knocking out Aldo, who was unbeaten in 10 years ahead of UFC 194, with one punch in just 13 seconds.

The KO sent shockwaves through the world of MMA and became even more epic when footage of him practicing the sequence backstage went viral.

McGregor promised his rival a rematch but it never happened. Still, they became unlikely friends and Aldo is sure to be backing his former foe to beat Chandler whenever they fight.

The two men were supposed to face off at UFC 303 on June 29, but a toe injury forced McGregor out of the bout, which he wants to rebook for August or September.

One shot was all McGregor needed to end Aldo’s decade-long winning streakCredit: getty images