It’s good to be Conor McGregor

With less than a few weeks away from the biggest fight of his career Conor McGregor is busy doing the media rounds before he gets to prove that he is the best in the world by finally fighting UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo at UFC 194 in Las Vegas.

c/o Gabriela Ochoa

Just six months ago McGregor was busy telling the world that he was the best in the featherweight division. A shot versus champion Jose Aldo would have given him the chance to prove that at UFC 189 but an injury would prevent Aldo from competing. So after all the wait his focus isn’t any different.

“I don’t really think about the opponent, I think about me. Of course this has been different. It has been a long road to get here, we’re not there yet. When Jose touches down in America I might breathe a little easier,” said McGregor.

As a result McGregor stepped up and took on Chad Mendes for the interim title and defeated him in the second round by TKO.

“Everything happens for a reason and if anything it gave me a chance to silence a lot of doubters who said I was being protected. A lot of people said I was protected from this particular type of opponent an American wrestler. No way are they going to put him in there with an American wrestler. He’s a cash cow,” said McGregor.

When asked he wastes no time in telling anyone that will listen that not only is he the best but that in a matter of fights he will be lightweight champion too. Just don’t fool lofty ambitions with how he focusses on what’s in front of him.

“I am a champion, I am a two weight champion in a previous organization and I am now a world champion in this organization. So I have world champion on my title and he has world champion on his title. So now we unify the belts and it worked out perfectly,” said McGregor.

As a fighter he has proven his keep in the UFC among the best. Behind closed doors he has had to deal with a tough training camp in his last fight where he wasn’t at his best. As a result he feels he came out of the ordeal mentally stronger having dealt with injuries and still winning in an impressive manner.

                                        c/o Gabriela Ochoa

“When I came through that last camp with everything and what I done and how I done it, I became bulletproof and I became invincible in my body. Now nothing can stop me,” said McGregor.

While Aldo offers a striking style as opposed to Mendes who was a wrestler first, McGregor still feels the result will be the same once his opponent feels his punch.

“When they get hit by me they look to grab. I’m facing a panic wrestler like I always face,” said McGregor.

It was just a few weeks back that Ronda Rousey was knocked out by Holly Holm in what was considered a great upset. While McGregor watched the former champion fall in defeat, he insists that he will not be the next to fall as he keeps things in perspective as to what happened.

“The first thing I watch is the technical aspect of the contest. I watched Holly put on a good performance. She struck and she evaded. I watched Ronda fight a little bit emotionally invested. I’m sure she had many things going on. She’s one of the hardest working fighters in the game, media wise and so she had a lot and it showed in the contest. Holly came up in the dark shadows,” said McGregor.

He would go on to compare it to the movie Rocky III where the lead character was distracted before facing Clubber Lang.

“I’m like Rocky where I have it all but I’m still training like Clubber. Still putting in that Clubber Lang work. Still grinding and still hungry. So I think I’m right in my balance but I think Ronda just got distracted. It’s the fight game but I didn’t look at all of that till after,” said McGregor.

Arguably the biggest star in the UFC right now, McGregor has a chance to solidify what he has said all along which is that business is good for him and the promotion.

“You’re right that I’m more serious when I get in there because it’s big, big business. With big business you’ve got to be serious. So I’m switched on all day, every day. I’m free and this is my time now,” said McGregor.