

Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Conor McGregor did exactly what he needed to do on September 28 in Las Vegas. Filling the legendary MGM Grand with his travelling support who made up 10 per cent of the crowd according to Dana White, the Irishman did what nobody had done before when he knocked out Dustin Poirier in 106 seconds.

It had emerged before his debut in the fight capital of the world that McGregor would be travelling to Jose Aldo’s championship defence at UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro which made many believe that UFC were keen on putting the inflammatory SBG man in the division’s number one contender spot.

Now, on the other side of his knockout of Poirier, ‘The Notorious’ is convinced that he is the top contender to Aldo’s title and if his travel arrangements for the Brazilian event are anything to go by, he has every reason to be.

“Without a doubt I’m the number one contender,” he began, “it’s as clear as day to me. I’ll head to Brazil next week. I’m going to meet Lorenzo Fertitta in Vegas and then we’re going to fly out in a private jet—that’s how I’m getting to Brazil.

“I’m going to go over there and cause mayhem. I’m going to show them that both of these guys want to lose. They know what’s next and they don’t want any of it, but I’m just going to have some fun.

“I know I’m the champion, never mind being the number one contender. It’s just me, Mr. Fertitta and the family, or la familia as they say in Italia, having a good time.”

The Dubliner has won a lot of attention on account of his sharp tongue that has lashed out at the majority of UFC’s 145 lbs bracket since making his debut for the promotion in April 2013. However, when questioned on what words he would have for Aldo if the two came face to face, the former Cage Warriors double weight champion surprisingly claimed that he had nothing to say to the Brazilian pound for pound candidate.

He said: “I don’t speak Brazilian (sic) so I wouldn’t have much to say to him, I’d just take my belt and carry on. I’m not speaking to these people so I have nothing to say.”

Essentially McGregor is being sent to the event to give Dana White and Co a taster of what could happen if he was to fight for a title. If Aldo manages to remain champion after UFC 179 McGregor could play the perfect villain for the Brazilian fans, given that a win for Mendes would probably mean an immediate rematch for the Nova Uniao product.

Although a lot of fans and critics are adamant that the real number one contender to Aldo’s title will be determined from November 22’s meeting of Cub Swanson and Frankie Edgar, McGregor insisted that the featherweight pairings’ careers are winding down when asked to forecast a victor between the two.

The Irish knockout artist also predicted Aldo to triumph over Chad Mendes on October 25, a scenario that would certainly suit his aspirations of getting to the title as quickly as possible.

“I don’t really care about the other fights to be honest. I think the Swanson and Edgar fight will be a close contest. They’re both aging competitors, they’re coming to the end of their careers – I don’t really care how it plays out to be honest with you.

“Aldo versus Mendes, I’ll probably say Aldo for that one, he won the first one so you can’t’ overlook that. Ultimately I don’t care about that though, I’m on my own journey to get the belt and that’s it. Whoever is in my way will get it and that’s that,” he added.

Follow the author on twitter.

Check out these related stories:

So Much Hype, So Little Time

Jack Slack: Conor McGregor Is the Future of Mixed Martial Arts

Title Shots: Conor McGregor