Conor McGregor has already done enough in his career to suggest he will go down as one of the finest fighters the UFC has ever produced but the Irishman claimed: “I feel like I’m only starting.”

McGregor was just the third fighter in the company’s history to become a multi-weight champion and the first to hold two titles simultaneously after adding lightweight gold to his featherweight crown in November 2016.

Fame and fortune followed a year later as a boxing bout against Floyd Mayweather reportedly netted McGregor more than 100million US dollars, while he is still the most recognisable and bankable figure in mixed martial arts.

“I know his team have been spouting about the conditioning, I have put in a lot of work to get myself correctly to the 155lb frame.

“I got 40 seconds inside the octagon in 2020 which caused major frustration, it’s not enough, I need more. I believe I can get him out there and possibly will hit him early and hurt him, but I hope for a good, long bout.”

The build-up to the fight has been largely respectful but Poirier (26-6) insists he is there to upset the odds, saying: “I’m trying to put my family in a better position and this is no different.

“I know what a win over Conor McGregor means in combat sports and I know that whoever wins this fight is fighting for gold.”