UFC’s Conor McGregor on Floyd Mayweather: ‘I would dismantle him’

UFC interim featherweight champion Conor McGregor believes he could beat Floyd Mayweather in a fight. “In a real fight, I would dismantle him in seconds,” McGregor said.

UFC interim featherweight champion Conor McGregor believes he could beat Floyd Mayweather in a fight, he toldThe Guardian on Monday.

“In a real fight, I would dismantle him in seconds,” McGregor said. “Ronda would dismantle him in seconds—100%. When you don’t know how to grapple you don’t stand a chance. For us, it’s like playing with a baby.

“Ronda is a judo Olympian. She would throw Floyd on his head in a second. Me? I would knock him out. Cold.”

Ronda Rousey, the undefeated UFC women's bantamweight champion, said in a Reddit Ask Me Anything on Monday that she could beat Mayweather ​(48-0, 26 KOs) in a fight with no rules.

• Ronda Rousey: I can beat Floyd Mayweather in no-rules fight

McGregor, the Irish fighter who at 17 gave up on becoming a plumber to work toward a UFC championship, said he would jump at the chance to fight Mayweather. McGregor believes agreeing to schedule a fight would be a financially prudent decision for Mayweather, who is known for his love of money.

“Why would he take me on?” McGregor said. “If you’re talking about a fight that could generate half a billion—it’s this one. There’s never going to be another boxing fight like this. Only a cross-style match between Mayweather and me could generate that kind of interest and revenue. So maybe it could happen. I would certainly be up for it.”

• Andre Berto begins war of words with Floyd Mayweather

Last month, McGregor knocked out Chad Mendes to become the UFC's interim featherweight champion. His next fight is slated to pit him against featherweight champion José Aldo in December.

- Erin Flynn