Conor McGregor has declared himself a greater fighter than Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski as part of a crazy interview that also discussed Origin III, Wests Tigers great Pat Richards … even an jersey from AFL great Jonathan Brown that apparently remains stolen.
Speaking with Main Event Australia this week, McGregor also outed himself a fan of the Queensland Maroons, and right after taking aim at “piss weak” West Australian government officials who last year banned his famed Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).
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Almost five years on from his last Octagon appearance, McGregor is now finally readying for a blockbuster return in Sunday’s UFC 329 blockbuster against Max Holloway.
An event where he intends to take the head of Holloway.
That, and prove himself “a master of martial arts”.
Indeed, during a wonderfully unique interview with Main Event’s Jono Brown this week, McGregor also revealed himself ready to not only usurp Holloway — who has has already beaten once — and also Volkanovski in all discussions about who really is the Greatest UFC Featherweight Of All Time.
Despite this weekend’s return taking place at welterweight, the Irishman insists a win over Holloway will also see him declared the greatest featherweight ever – ahead of even Australia’s reigning champion.
When also asked if he would fight and beat Volkanovski, McGregor shot back: “Yeah, for sure. Handily.
“Styles make fights and it’s not a good match up for him. He’s a good fighter, not a bad fighter. But he’s not on the level of The Mac.”
Quizzed on the fact Volkanovski beat Holloway three times, McGregor continued: “Yes, Holloway fought Volkanovski three times. I watched some of the bouts. I watched the most recent one only the other day.
“And I’ve taken some things from it for sure.
“They’re two good fighters, but two lesser fighters to The Mac. I know there’s an argument on this greatest featherweight of all time conversation.
“So I’m excited to get in and showcase who really is the greatest featherweight of all time.”
At which point Brown reminded the Irishman Sunday’s blockbuster is being contested two divisions higher.
“That’s correct, the fight is at welterweight,” McGregor grinned. “But you get what I’m saying.
“I beat these men handily. Easily.
“And yet I go on with my career and listen [to people say] that these men are better than me in the featherweight division, even though I beat them.
“That was motivation for me in this camp, fuel for me in this camp. I’m excited to compete here at welterweight also.
“I feel good at this weight. Have had some excellent performances in the welterweight division.”
McGregor also took aim at the West Australian Combat Sports Commission, who in June last year declined BKFC’s application for a bareknuckle boxing event in Perth.
Instead, the promotion, which includes McGregor as a part owner, took themselves to Queensland.
Conor McGregor’s greatest mic moments | 18:06
“Weak as piss my man,” McGregor said of the decision. “It happens to sports, to fighting sports of our nature. It happened to the Ultimate Championship in their rise, and now bareknuckle is going through it at the minute.
“But onward we go. We take all the safety precautions and put our men and women to battle.”
Incredibly, McGregor’s ire was actually raised when being asked moments earlier for, of all things, an Origin III prediction.
“I’ll go with Queensland,” he said, taking even less time with his answer than he needed to finish Jose Aldo. “And reason being, Queensland are a staunch crew of people. And why? Because they accepted the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, which held our inaugural Australian event. It was very good and we’re going to build on our efforts there.
“We had an issue with … I don’t want to say Perth or Sydney … I don’t know where it was. But we were good to go. The event sold out. But there was a bit of, ah … it hit a certain board, and some board members hadn’t got the cajones for bare knuckle.
“Even though the people of Australia are a fighting nation, a strong nation, and would love bare knuckle.
“However Queensland came through and we hosted a bareknuckle event in Queensland.”
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Elsewhere, Browny also revealed how two years ago, he went and visited McGregor’s famed pub, The Black Forge Inn – where he met a staffer named Liam, and presented an AFL jersey with McGregor’s name splashed across the back of it.
So what chance it got all the way to the UFC megastar?
“Bro, you know what?” McGregor grinned. “That never made its way to me. I’ll hit him up after this interview and say ‘where is that jersey’.
“But I appreciate you coming out and hope you had a great time in the world’s greatest pub.”
Asked at another point about AFL football, McGregor replied: “I have a cousin who is a known footballer out your way, Pat Richards. Don’t know him do yah?”
Absolutely, Brown replied before going into a short spiel about the Wests Tigers premiership hero.
“Rugby league for the Wests Tigers, yeah,” McGregor grinned. “There ya’ go. So I’m up for the Wests Tigers.”
When it comes to Sunday’s comeback, the Irishman also declared himself ready for a massive upset win.
Asked about camp, McGregor said: “Very good; the team flew out to Orange County in California to acclimatize to the time, the weather and what not. And we finished up the last quarter of the camp there.
McGregor vs Holloway | 2013 Highlights | 04:48
“Now we’re in Las Vegas and everything is great. Weight is on point, body is rested and raring to go. I’m very excited and I hope the fans in Australia are ready for fireworks. The Mac is back.
“You’re going to see mastery. A master of martial arts at work.
Soon after he added that the preparation had been “meticulous”.
“Very detailed,” he said. “And it is not just me boasting, or bragging. It is meticulous preparation for this bout that has my confidence where it is. And I’m excited to show my team’s work.”