UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm shone brightest at the World MMA Awards, winning Female Fighter of the Year, Breakthrough Fighter of the Year, Knockout of the Year, and Upset of the Year. Her Jackson-Wink gym even won Gym of the Year.

But it was UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor who generated the most heat, and he wasn’t even there. ‘Notorious’ won the Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Fighter of the Year, and accepted via a pre-recorded, giant disembodied head.

Like seemingly everything he does in the MMA space, it was memorable.

“What’s up everybody,” he began, his face appearing out of the dark. “I’d like to thank the FIghter’s Only World MMA Awards. I want to thank yous for the last years award, which I also couldn’t collect – the Breakthrough Fighter of the Year. It was an honor again the break through and kill the entire game in less than two years. Nobody can touch me.

“I apologize for not being there. There’s another man that must be slain. Another champion that must be dethroned. There’s more numbers that need to be broken. I need to feed all you bums. I need to feed every single one of yous in the game, so I’ve got to keep working, because yous bums don’t work.

“You got the heavyweight champion, who’s a p****, pulling out with a sore toe. How is the heavyweight champion going to pull out with a sore toe? What kind of champion is that? The game is on its knees, so, I apologize I can’t be there at the awards, but I am out here putting it in, working, putting in the true work, the work it takes to keep every one of yous fed.

“So thank you, and thank me.”

The crowd then erupted with laughter and cheers, and Conor McGregor won another day.