JOE LAUZON IS one of the most popular athletes in mixed martial arts and when he offers his opinion on something, it’s worth taking seriously.

Lauzon is known for his interaction with fans and regular video blogs, so the UFC lightweight has conducted a video Q&A session via Snapchat.

Unsurprisingly, Lauzon was asked for his thoughts on Conor McGregor, given the Dubliner’s status as the most-talked-about man in the sport at the moment.

First, Lauzon was asked if anyone can beat McGregor, who defeated Chad Mendes last month at UFC 189 to win the UFC interim featherweight title.

“Someone’s going to beat him but I don’t know who. He’s got really good range, really good boxing and he’s got the swagger,” Lauzon said.

However, when asked for his thoughts on McGregor’s clash with undisputed champion Jose Aldo in Las Vegas on 12 December, Lauzon said he’s backing the Irishman at UFC 194 but he doesn’t fancy his chances against number one contender Frankie Edgar.

“After Conor’s last fight, I think he beats Aldo but I think Frankie gives him a really, really tough time. And I think Frankie Edgar beats Conor. But I think Conor beats Aldo… if that makes sense,” said Lauzon, who’s due to fight Evan Dunham in Vegas the night before McGregor takes on Aldo.

Lauzon added that he’s a big McGregor fan, despite being critical of ‘The Notorious’ in the aftermath of last year’s win over Diego Brandao when he was mistakenly under the impression that the featherweight star faked a glove-touch at the beginning of the fight.

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, president Dana White and interim title-holder Conor McGregor. Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

“I do like McGregor. I love McGregor, and I feel bad because I kind of talked trash about him in one of the fights. He was fighting someone and I thought that he went to go fake-touch gloves and then he threw a spinning back-kick really, really fast. And I thought it was kind of a cheap shot.

“And I was like, ‘Ah, what a scumbag’. Then tonnes of people messaged me right of way [saying] the other guy shook off the hand-touch and it was just McGregor finding his range. So I felt like a real dick.

“I am a big McGregor fan regardless but I always feel like a real jerk so I think I root for him extra hard, because I don’t like to judge people, and I kind of did. I fucked up.”