Alvarez vs McGregor: Fight verdict

McGregor has to get the fight finished in the first three rounds. I expect him to use angles, lots of movement, changes of rhythm, kicks to the body, and try to weave and sway in the pocket with brawler/wrestler Alvarez. The American has a great gas tank, so it would not surprise me at all if McGregor tries to go to the body a lot and to Alvarez's legs with kicks in the first 10 minutes, all the while looking to unleash that long heavy left hand, with a straight or uppercut. Alvarez meanwhile will want to make it a 'dirty' fight, swarm the Irishman and throw fast combinations, while also bringing into play his underrated - or at least not talked about a great deal in the lead-up to this fight - wrestling. It will be better for Alvarez the longer the fight goes, one suspects, as he is adept at having a second wind in long fights.

Gareth's verdict: McGregor by TKO (rd 3/4), or narrow points victory.

Conor McGregor's marketing genius makes retirement a no-go

The stardom McGregor has experienced in the last two years has had a profound effect on him. The UFC featherweight champion cannot walk down the road without being stopped - either in the United States, but noticeably in his homeland where he has crossed over into mainstream stardom. McGregor has a mindset which understands his role, but underpinning that is a desperate workrate and dedication behind the scenes with a formidable team.