LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor won the UFC interim featherweight title at UFC 189 Saturday night by stopping Chad Mendes with three seconds left in the third round with a vicious series of strikes. McGregor (18-2) spent much of the first two rounds on his back, but the Irish sensation finished the fight with a lightning-quick combination. After a big left hand put Mendes down, McGregor pounded away for the stoppage and then jumped onto the cage in celebration. He later sunk to his knees in tears while thousands of Irish fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena roared in adoration. Mendes (17-3), who stepped in for injured featherweight champion Jose Aldo just 2 1/2 weeks ago, embraced McGregor in sportsmanship after a promotion dominated by high-level trash talk. — AP
