UFC 246: McGregor vs. Cowboy Full Fight Card, Date & Details
UFC 246: McGregor vs. Cowboy
United States
Main Card • Final
Ireland
R1, 0:40
Performance of the Night
R3, 5:00
Russia
R2, 4:38
Performance of the Night
R1, 2:49
Performance of the Night
Jamaica
Brazil
R2, 1:46
Performance of the Night
Prelims • Final
R3, 5:00
Nigeria
R3, 5:00
R3, 5:00
R1, 1:10
Performance of the Night
Morocco
Early Prelims • Final
Bosnia & Herzegovina
R3, 5:00
Colombia
R3, 5:00
Official Event Results
$50k Bonus
Official Post-Fight Bonus Awards
$50,000 Post-Fight Bonus Recipients
Fight of the Night: No Fight of the Night bonus was awarded for this event.
Performance of the Night: The UFC opted to distribute five $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses to Conor McGregor, Aleksei Oleinik, Brian Kelleher, Carlos Diego Ferreira, and Drew Dober for their outstanding stoppage victories.
Reported Payouts & Disclosed Purses
Fighter Purses & Total Payout Estimates
| Fighter | Result | Base Purse | Win / Finish Bonus | Performance Bonus | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | $3,000,000 | — | $50,000 | $3,050,000 | |
| LOSS | $200,000 | — | — | $200,000 | |
| WIN | $150,000 | $50,000 | — | $200,000 | |
| LOSS | $155,000 | — | — | $155,000 | |
| WIN | $75,000 | $75,000 | $50,000 | $200,000 | |
| WIN | $55,000 | $55,000 | $50,000 | $160,000 | |
| WIN | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $150,000 | |
| LOSS | $63,000 | — | — | $63,000 | |
| WIN | $31,000 | $31,000 | — | $62,000 | |
| WIN | $23,000 | $23,000 | $50,000 | $96,000 | |
| LOSS | $55,000 | — | — | $55,000 | |
| WIN | $27,000 | $27,000 | — | $54,000 | |
| LOSS | $31,000 | — | — | $31,000 | |
| LOSS | $30,000 | — | — | $30,000 | |
| LOSS | $30,000 | — | — | $30,000 | |
| LOSS | $29,000 | — | — | $29,000 | |
| LOSS | $25,000 | — | — | $25,000 | |
| WIN | $12,000 | $12,000 | — | $24,000 | |
| WIN | $10,000 | $10,000 | — | $20,000 | |
| WIN | $10,000 | $10,000 | — | $20,000 | |
| LOSS | $20,000 | — | — | $20,000 | |
| LOSS | $10,000 | — | — | $10,000 |
*Disclosed purses reported by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Total disclosed payroll for the event was $4,434,000. Figures do not include pay-per-view points, commercial locker-room bonuses, or promotional compliance payments. Disclosed totals include the official $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses awarded by the promotion.
Historic UFC Records Set
Promotional Records Established at UFC 246
Conor McGregor became the first fighter in UFC history to score knockout finishes across three different weight classes: featherweight (145 lbs), lightweight (155 lbs), and welterweight (170 lbs).
UFC 246 generated a massive live gate of $11,087,629.33 with 19,040 fans, standing as the fourth-largest live gate in promotional history at the time.
Stopping Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds of round one marked the second-fastest finish of McGregor’s UFC career, trailing only his 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo at UFC 194.
Heavyweight veteran Aleksei Oleinik became the first fighter in mixed martial arts history to achieve a professional MMA victory in four separate decades: the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s.
Donald Cerrone extended his all-time promotional record for the most fights inside the Octagon, making his 34th walk to the cage in the UFC 246 headliner.
With no Fight of the Night awarded, UFC 246 featured a rare promotional occurrence where five distinct fighters received $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus checks.
Roxanne Modafferi secured one of the greatest statistical betting upsets in women’s flyweight history, entering as a +650 underdog before dominating previously undefeated Maycee Barber.
Generating over 1,350,000 global pay-per-view buys, UFC 246 set an all-time platform record for ESPN+ streaming buyrates since the digital partnership commenced.
McGregor delivered the most impactful shoulder-strike sequence in UFC history, breaking Cerrone’s nose and orbital bone while locked in an over-under clinch.
Drew Dober tied for the lead in fastest lightweight knockouts of 2020 by stopping prospect Nasrat Haqparast with a walk-off left hook in just 1:10 of the opening round.
Carlos Diego Ferreira became the first fighter since Dustin Poirier to submit former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, extending his active divisional winning streak to six.
Brian Kelleher scored the fastest finish of his Octagon career, latching onto a guillotine choke to tap out debuting Contender Series standout Ode’ Osbourne in round one.
When and where did UFC 246: McGregor vs. Cowboy take place?
UFC 246: McGregor vs. Cowboy took place on Saturday, January 18, 2020, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paradise), Nevada.
Who won the main event between Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone?
Conor McGregor defeated Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone via TKO (head kick and punches) at 0:40 of Round 1 in their featured welterweight matchup.
How did Conor McGregor finish Donald Cerrone so quickly?
Immediately after a missed left hand, McGregor engaged in a clinch and delivered four devastating shoulder strikes that broke Cerrone’s nose. Following a head kick and flurry of ground strikes, the referee halted the bout in just 40 seconds.
What promotional record did Conor McGregor set with his win?
With his victory, McGregor became the first fighter in UFC history to record knockout finishes across three separate weight divisions: featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight.
Who won the co-main event between Holly Holm and Raquel Pennington?
Former women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm defeated Raquel Pennington via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) in their three-round rematch.
Who earned the post-fight bonuses at UFC 246?
Five fighters earned $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses: Conor McGregor, Aleksei Oleinik, Brian Kelleher, Carlos Diego Ferreira, and Drew Dober. No Fight of the Night was awarded.
What historical milestone did Aleksei Oleinik achieve at UFC 246?
By submitting Maurice Greene with an armbar, Aleksei Oleinik became the first mixed martial artist in history to win professional bouts across four different decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s).
What was the biggest betting upset of the event?
Roxanne Modafferi entered as a massive +650 underdog and dominated previously undefeated prospect Maycee Barber (-900 favorite) to win a unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–26).
How did Carlos Diego Ferreira defeat Anthony Pettis?
Carlos Diego Ferreira executed relentless grappling pressure to submit former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis via rear-naked choke at 1:46 of Round 2.
What was the official attendance and gate for UFC 246?
The event drew a sellout crowd of 19,040 fans and produced an official live gate of $11,087,629.33 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
How many pay-per-view buys did UFC 246 generate?
UFC 246 generated approximately 1,353,429 pay-per-view buys globally, making it one of the top commercial successes in UFC history.
What were the highest reported fighter purses at UFC 246?
According to the NSAC, Conor McGregor earned a flat base purse of $3,000,000, while Donald Cerrone earned $200,000 and Holly Holm earned $200,000 ($150,000 base + $50,000 win bonus).
Were there any bouts cancelled from the UFC 246 fight card?
Yes. A strawweight bout between Cláudia Gadelha and Alexa Grasso was scrapped on weigh-in day after Grasso weighed in at 121.5 lbs (5.5 lbs over the limit). Additionally, Grant Dawson vs. Chas Skelly was removed after Dawson was forced to withdraw.
Who were the commentators and announcer for UFC 246?
The cage-side commentary team consisted of play-by-play lead Jon Anik alongside color analysts Joe Rogan and Paul Felder. The Octagon announcer was Bruce Buffer.
How many UFC appearances did Donald Cerrone reach at UFC 246?
UFC 246 marked Donald Cerrone’s 34th Octagon appearance, extending his all-time promotional record for the most fights in UFC history.
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