UFC interim featherweight champion Conor McGregor has never lacked for confidence, and he isn’t just confident he can beat Jose Aldo for the featherweight title at UFC 194. In an interview with The Independent, the Irishman said that he also wants to put on some pounds and fight for the lightweight title as well.
“I hope Jose Aldo turns up this time,” McGregor said, referring to how Aldo begged off their scheduled match at UFC 189 due to a rib injury. “But even if he does, I can’t see him answering the bell for the second round. I can’t see his face or body sat the beginning of the second. I will KO him inside one, then go on and fight the winner of Rafael dos Anjos and Donald Cerrone for the lightweight belt. After the next two fights, I’ll be a two-weight champion.”
McGregor also stressed that his resilience is what will give him the edge over the injury-prone Aldo, who last fought at UFC 179 last October 2014, where he won over Chad Mendes. “I told (Aldo), ‘show up and I won’t target your body, I’ll hit you clean in the face’,” said McGregor. “He still didn’t show up! I showed up against Mendes (at UFC 189, where Mendes replaced Aldo) because I’m a beast. Nothing can stop me taking over the game. I’m carrying the UFC on my shoulders – and doing squats with it!”
UFC 194 takes place tonight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and will also feature Chris Weidman defending his middleweight title against Luke Rockhold in the semi-main event. Other fights on the card include Ronaldo Souza vs Yoel Romero in the middleweight division, Demian Maia vs Gunnar Nelson in welterweight, and Max Holloway vs Jeremy Stephens in featherweight. The Fox Sports 1 preliminary card will be highlighted by highly-ranked bantamweight Urijah Faber taking on Frankie Saenz.