Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez: ‘Mystic Mac’ predicts first round knockout at UFC 205

Conor McGregor predicts a first round knockout for Eddie Alvarez, but hopes his opponent at UFC 205 can last longer, so he can show fans the improvements he’s been making in the gym.

Speaking to the UFC before he steps into the octagon in the main event at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, the Notorious one said: “Part of me hopes that he can last because I’m sprinting in round five.

“There’s fresh bodies coming in halfway through my work and I’m still pushing harder than anyone in the fifth and final round. So, part of me wants to show that to the fans, to everyone. I just don’t think he has it in him, he’s too easily hit. You can smack him from anywhere.

“I have everything on him: reach, height, everything so I don’t see him getting out of the first round. If he does, great, I’ll take my hat off to his toughness; he’s a tough dude. He can get in a fight and he’s been doing it a long time but tough is not enough to go against me.”

Alvarez has been fighting professionally in various different organisations all over the world since 2003, but that doesn’t impress the Irishman one bit, who says he’s been doing the same, adding he hasn’t really watched many of Alvarez’s previous fights.

“I know he’s been around for a long time as have I. I’ve fought all over the world also. I’ve been doing this game along time as well. I’ve seen a couple of his fights just for this… so I kind of have an understanding of him.”

McGregor also isn’t impressed by what the American is bringing to the fight on Saturday. The Pride of Ireland was asked about Alvarez’s wrestling ability and the similarities, trait-wise, between him and Chad Mendes, who McGregor dispatched in impressive style back at UFC 189 in July 2015.

“The reach is an average reach, height again is average, the style the shots, nothing’s not reachable. Everyone kind of fights like that.

“[Mendes and Alvarez] are almost identical… I definitely see similarities, but I think Chad’s a hell of a lot faster and a more accomplished wrestler.

“He doesn’t know what to expect. How can you? Look at (my) last fight and then look at the previous fight before that; two completely different fighters. I can paint so many different pictures inside that octagon, so he might have an idea of what it will be, but it’ll be something completely different.”