UFC: Conor McGregor ready for battle as he prepares for homecoming fight in Dublin

Conor McGregor: Believes family history will stand him in good stead for UFC career

Irish sensation Conor McGregor believes he is fulfilling his family’s fighting heritage as he prepares to return against Diego Brandao on home turf at Fight Night Dublin on Saturday.

With his name on the posters as well as the lips of the locals, McGregor is the star attraction of the UFC’s first event to Ireland in five years but he maintains his ascendancy was preordained.

“This is destiny for me. I’m doing what I was put here to do, what my ancestors were doing on the war-torn Scottish Highlands in the 17th Century,” he told Sky Sports.

“I was bred on the battlefield and this is the modern-day era.

“The more I look into my family history and the McGregor name, it was bred on battle. It makes me realise that this chose me, I wasn’t meant to do anything else.

“There’s no end to this. I’m not going to get somewhere and say ‘ok I’m done’. Success is never final, I’ll just keep on going. The same way as failure never being fatal. Just keep going. I’m going to the stars and then past them.

“I’m going to change the way martial arts is viewed. I’m going to change the game. I’m going to change the way people approach fighting.”

The 26-year-old has won both of his UFC outings to date but a knee injury kept him shelved for nearly a year. He feels that headlining in front of his rabid compatriots in just the second UFC event on Irish soil is the ideal return.

“I feel like coming back from the injury I have laser-like focus. I’m a refined athlete in body and mind so I’m looking to go in there and prove it, show it.

Obsessed

“I’ve never had time off, it’s always in my head, there’s no such thing as ring rust. Ring rust is a myth created by part-timers, guys who aren’t obsessed with this game.

“Although I was out my mind was always on it, my mind was always focused on movement. When I got the all-clear to come back I found that, you know what, I’m better than when I left. I have more movement in my arsenal.

“Contact is my training. It’s good to make your brain work more than your body. I put a lot of thought into these movements.

“I feel different in my mind, preparation-wise. I feel supremely confident that I’m coming here to shut this guy down.”

Brandao, the Brazilian replacement for original foe Cole Miller, receiveed short shrift from McGregor upon whom the attention and expectancy will lie.

He added: “This is combat sports, people get injured, people fall out, people get scared and run.

“The pressure [Brandao] will feel straight off the bat he won’t have felt before. He’s going to be on the back foot and there’s no escape, he has to crumble.”

Aside from Miller and Brandao a third potential opponent is in his sights – Cub Swanson will be in attendance in Dublin fresh off his own victory last week. McGregor remains unwilling to share the spotlight.

“They’re bringing him over to show him what a true number one contender looks like. Ultimately I will go through every one of them and one by one they will fall.”

How does Conor McGregor compare to the world's elite athletes? sports scientist Professor Greg Whyte analysed the Irishman's physical abilities and gave his verdict.