The next challenger to the title does not expect a warm welcome
Wednesday 22 October 2014 13:43, UK
Ireland’s UFC sensation Conor McGregor is set for Brazil to “cause chaos” at the championship fight between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes.
McGregor describes his ringside seat at UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro as “business and pleasure” as he is ready to receive the next shot at the featherweight title that Aldo has already defended once against Mendes.
This is business and pleasure. I’m going to enjoy it because I don’t have to compete but everything I do is big, big business.
Fresh from a scintillating Las Vegas debut where he stopped Dustin Poirier quickly and emphatically, McGregor is expecting to be the star of the show without even competing this weekend.
“The Brazilian fans are like the Irish so I’m going there to cause chaos,” McGregor told Sky Sports.
“True followers of the sport know who I am and Aldo’s fans will know who I am. Everyone in the building will know me. I highly doubt I will get a good reception but I will enjoy it.
“This is business and pleasure. I’m going to enjoy it because I don’t have to compete but everything I do is big, big business.
“The option was there to go on [UFC chairman Lorenzo Fertitta’s] private jet but in my mind, I only want to travel on my own private jet.”
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Future
The 26-year-old Dubliner has forged a remarkable ability to predict his own career – he correctly claimed that Poirier and Diego Brandao would be stopped in the opening round. Other bold predictions – such as fighting for the title before 2015 and defending it in Ireland’s Aviva Stadium – remain unfulfilled but he claims these statements are no fluke.
“I only say things when I feel and I know that they are going to happen. People can respect that or not, it makes no difference, because they will stand up and take notice.
“The predictions are not something that I just pick out of the air. I see it in my opponent’s reaction to pressure, how they come forwards. Then I hear their voice and their words.
“I see it in their eyes and then the finish comes to me. Throughout camp I have certain shots that I visualise landing and it all comes into a perfect storm.
“When Dustin fell I thought of the money. I have a good 20 seconds of thinking about a nice, fat cheque before I think about the next one.
“I didn’t celebrate because it’s a done deal. It’s over and done with in my mind, I know what’s going to happen, and I consistently tell people exactly how it will happen. Then I go out and execute it. I celebrate as soon as the contract is signed.”
McGregor’s foresight extends to the result he expects this weekend in Rio.
“For me to predict two other men’s contest is different. That said, I believe it will be identical to the first one. Mendes’ technical ability failed him in the first one and he has not adjusted that. I feel Chad is a broken man. Aldo has turned his back on his team-mate Renan Barao. I don’t rate Chad too highly and I don’t rate Jose.
“I am the number one contender so I will put my feet up. I’m the one with the stadium awaiting and the highest ever attendances waiting so I will relax on the Copacabana and wait for the winner.”
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