An assured Conor McGregor has promised fans a masterpiece against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257.
As the Dubliner faced the media in Abu Dhabi today ahead of the Fight Island clash, a confident McGregor says he's out to disprove one of his greatest criticisms.
A fast-paced knockout artist, fans had to wait a long time to see how the Notorious one would handle a cardio-testing five-round epic.
And when confronted with the challenge of Nate Diaz in early 2016, McGregor ran out of gas as he was submitted by the Stockton fighter.
In their rematch however, he lasted all 25 minutes of a back-and-forth war as he avenged the defeat just a few months later.
But after suffering a similar fate against a relentless Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018, many still speculate that cardio could be a weakness in his game.
And when asked about his opinion on the theory, McGregor quickly dismissed the criticism.
“I think it’s a myth,” McGregor said.
“Obviously I had the first Diaz fight. I went from featherweight, then a month or so later I was at welterweight. That’s obviously going to have impact. Then there was other issues.
"But overall, I think it’s a myth. It’s a myth that’s out there, and I hope we can answer it – and I will answer it in time, at some stage.
"Sometime, I’m showing up here and someone’s going to be able to stay in the pocket with me and stay in there and fight with me, and I hope it’s this Saturday night. Do I think so? I do not.
"I’m in some shape at the minute and I tell you this now: I am coming to put on a masterpiece.”
McGregor only needed 40 seconds to get past the challenge of Donald Cerrone last time out, and he's predicted more of the same this time around.
And although he thinks he'll score an early victory, McGregor hopes that he'll be given a much sterner test.
“I got him out of there in 90 seconds the first time, so I’m not that far off,” McGregor added.
“That’s a complete confidence in my preparation and in my abilities. I know there’s questions about my abilities.
"I know he’s heavier and on a different weight and more experienced, but I feel I can do it. … I believe I can get him out there and possibly hit him early, but I am hoping for a good, long bout.”
