He is confident he will prevent 'The Notorious' from making history

champion is making the first defence of his title

With just over a week to go until he headlines what is set to be the biggest event in UFC history, Eddie Alvarez has cranked up his war of words with Conor McGregor.

The lightweight champion will defend his crown against 'The Notorious' as the promotion makes its New York bow at UFC 205 on November 12.

And Alvarez is as confident as ever that he will prevent the brash Irishman from making UFC history and becoming the first man to hold two belts simultaneously.

Eddie Alvarez is confident the first defence of his lightweight title will be a successful one

The Philadelphia native is relishing the chance to silence 'The Notorious' Conor McGregor

Speaking exclusively to Sportsmail ahead of the bout, the Philadelphia native insisted he was not feeling the weight of the occasion.

'No, I would have had wins that have meant more to me than this one,' he replies.

'But as far as shutting his (McGregor) mouth and giving him some humility, it will be an honour.

'I think he did a good job getting this fight, selling the fight and promoting it. This will break every record in UFC history bar attendance. And the only reason it won’t break attendance is because Madison Square Garden is a smaller arena.

'A lot of people will show up to cheer for him but a lot of people are also going to show up and enjoy watching him be defeated.'

And where does the confidence come from? It's a combination of effective preparation and experience.

Alvarez (left) says that his preparations for UFC 205 could not have gone any better

'We’re just ending camp,' he says. 'I have one more hard sparring session left on Friday and we had a really good one on Wednesday.

'Before the fight was even announced I was already four weeks into a training camp.

'The people and coaches I work with are like no other camp in the world. We’re a small group and because of that every detail gets paid attention to and it makes for a very fast learning curve. We spar and we critique, we spar and we correct.

'The coaches couldn’t be happier. Every week we’ve progressed. Every week we've got faster, stronger and got more endurance. We’re ready, 100 per cent ready.'

The 32-year-old (left) says he felt no fear whatsoever when squaring off with McGregor (right)

Alvarez (right) believes his vastly superior experience at lightweight will be key to victory

The prospect of facing McGregor, tipped to be even more devastating at 155lbs, would be an intimidating one for some, but not for the man nicknamed the 'Underground King.'

'I just remember being in New York, being at the press conference, and if I felt anything I just felt happy,' he explains. 'I didn’t feel those emotions that I normally feel, where I feel threatened and I feel like I have to defend myself.'

Alvarez (28-4-0) has stepped into the cage with a proverbial who's who of top lightweight contenders during his 13-year professional mixed martial arts career.

And when asked where he ranks his opponent among those he has fought before, the 32-year-old was less than complimentary.

'I wouldn’t say very highly in the grand scheme of things,' he adds. 'Throughout my long career I've fought the best in the world and I don’t think he (McGregor) has.

Alvarez (right) insists he has faced tougher challenges, such as Gilbert Melendez (left)

The lightweight champion admits McGregor (right) has impressive striking skills

'When you talk about Rafael dos Anjos, Donald Cerrone and Gilbert Melendez, these are guys who have been in the sport for over 10 years, fighting the best in the world and proving themselves.

'I feel like he still has proving to do if he wants to call himself one of the best. He is going to have to get through a guy like me to even be able to scratch at that.'

He admits, however, that McGregor does have his strengths to his game, though he knows exactly how to nullify them.

'Of course, he has that left hand and I think he has good reflexes,' he accepts. 'I think his reflexes are some of the quickest in the division but it only lasts for seven or eight minutes and then it goes away. It’s a non-issue after that time.'

McGregor (right) was seen to tire significantly during the second round of his past two bouts

'I have the experience in lightweight fights, just pure experience. Experience in being in bad situations and overcoming them.

'I’ve been training my whole life for these championship fights, I know how to deal with them and I don’t think he does.

'I think the fight will end inside of two rounds. Around the nine minute mark I should be able to overcome him. We will put him in some bad situations early and start getting him to doubt himself and when that happens it’s the beginning of the end.'

And what does Alvarez believe will happen to the McGregor hype train after the American retains his title?

'Who gives a s***?'