“Life is beautiful” – The ever-quotable Conor McGregor ahead of UFC 178

There is certain calmness to Conor McGregor in the build up to his pay per view debut on Saturday night’s UFC 178. The Dubliner seems at ease as he approaches what many believe will be his toughest test to date against Dustin Poirier, and he explained why he has plenty of reasons to be happy in his current situation.

“I’m living the dream, showing up at the gym doing what I love,” said ‘The Notorious’. “I’m living a good life and I’m a very happy life right now. Everything surrounding this contest feels right, it feels beautiful. I take it in my stride. I’m enjoying this beautiful town I’m in and next Saturday I’m going to put on the performance of my life. I guarantee it.

“Fight week is a tough week, but right now I’m in a presidential suite, I’m living the life and I’m enjoying every minute of it. I’m celebrating victory. I have a butler. Whatever you want shows up 10 minutes later.

“This is what I work hard for, day in and day out. I’ve never been in a better place and my performance September 27 will prove that. It’s going to be a special night for the Irish.”

Asked what the best thing about waking up every morning as Conor McGregor, there were no surprises when the Irish featherweight brought up his love for custom made suits:

“Looking in the mirror every morning and just realizing ‘wow, what a machine,” was McGregor’s first reply before he added, “wearing custom-made suits and knowing I look fly as shit.”

The SBG frontrunner also touched on one of his most utilised tools, his visualisation, which has been a staple of the featherweight’s success to date.

“I feel like I’m a veteran now at this game. When you first start you visualize all these things, not just in the Octagon,” he explained. “One day I anticipated it and I prepared for it and now I’m three fights deep. Now it just feels like another day for me.”

A man who has made no bones about having his mind on his money in the past, McGregor highlighted his excitement at finally competing in the fight capital of the world.

“Of course it’s a big deal,” he remarked on his Las Vegas birth. “But it’s not so much of a big deal that I’m going to be overwhelmed by it. It’s what I expected. Every combat sports athlete aspires to fight in Vegas. It might not feel right, but it’s beautiful.

“Get ready for a show, because I’m going to put this guy out. I’m on a takeover and now I’m going to take over America. On September 27 people are going to realize that this guy is here to take over the world. It’s going to be a flawless performance.”

The Irishman also acknowledged that the Irish Diaspora and the American fans that have a particular interest in his bout this Saturday should allow the fight to have the best atmosphere of the night.

He said: “It’s going to be a beautiful mix. The Irish-American heritage in the US is amazing. Of course there will be some Americans supporting their hometown boy, but it’s going to be electric and that’s what I’m looking forward to.

“I think it’s going to be the best atmosphere of the night. There’s going to be a mix of Irish, Irish-Americans and then those supporting their hometown boy. I think it’s going to be a crazy atmosphere of cheers and boos and it’s going to shape up to be a phenomenal contest.”

Asked whether Jon Jones’ withdrawal from the card has forced him to up his promotion and performance for the event, McGregor revealed that he already feels like he is the greatest.

“I’m on my own journey and my own path and I am the greatest. I am the pound-for-pound greatest. I was looking forward to Jon (Jones) being on the card, but with or without him on the card, I’m still going to show I’m the greatest.

“Demetrious Johnson is one of the pound-for-pound greatest fighters in the world. He’s one of the most technically sound fighters out there. I’m very happy to be on a card with these guys.

“The buzz is around me, it’s not around Dustin. If Dustin pulled out and I still fought the buzz would still be there. If I fell off, tell me where the buzz would be then? The buzz is about me. But Demetrious Johnson is one of the pound-for-pound best and let’s not take anything away from him,” he said.

McGregor also highlighted that he has no personal disdain towards Poirier and that he had simply been telling the truth when he was asked to about the American previously.

“I haven’t taken any jibes at anyone. People ask my opinion on someone and I tell them the truth. I looked him in the eyes and I saw fear, I saw a broken man, and come September 27th the world will see what I saw.

“I definitely saw a broken man. I could look through his soul when I looked into his eyes. When the door shuts and the lights go down there’s nowhere to run, there’s nowhere to hide. On September 27th it will come out, the truth will come out just like it always does.”

@PetesyCarroll