CONOR McGregor was in fine form as he wowed an American audience on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show ahead of next weekend’s high-profile bout with Jose Aldo.
The studio audience warmed to the Dubliner as he spoke of everything from fighting being in Irish blood, to his mother being his biggest fan no matter how he makes his money.
“I'm Irish, we're all good at fighting,” he joked, before revealing that he has always had a self-defensive mind, even as a young child.
He said: "Society tells you, growing up, that you should fantasise about kicking a ball and dream about that, but it didn’t really interest me.
“I tried to maybe pretend that I was interested in it but, really, kicking a ball straight into a net is pretty cool but what happens if someone runs up alongside me and hits me two shots into the mouth. Then it’s not so cool.
“That’s what was in my head as a kid. I had a self-defence mind. Where I come from and where I grew up, you had to be aware.”
McGregor’s father’s initial reluctance to encourage his son to get involved in MMA is well documented, but he claims he’ll always have the backing of his mother.
“Irish mothers will support you no matter what you do,” he said. “My father always jokes that I could be doing anything and my mother would still be my biggest fan.
“I am happy that I have put martial arts in the spotlight in my country and shown it for what it is – true dedication and beautiful discipline.”
The 27-year-old takes on UFC featherweight champion Aldo in Las Vegas on December 12, five months after it was originally planned for UFC 189.
Watch the video above for more intriguing quotes from the charismatic Irishman.
