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UFC interim featherweight champion Conor McGregor thinks women’s juggernaut Ronda Rousey is an “absolute animal” and someone he wouldn’t like to face in the Octagon.

The charismatic Irishman told SI Now (h/t Simon Head of the Sun), that he’d expect Rousey to instantly take him to the ground if the pair ever squared off:

I certainly would not like to end up in a tie-up with Miss Rousey! I remember one time when I’d seen her and I greeted her and I said ‘what’s up champ?’ and we embraced. I swear on my life her back muscles were the solidest (sic) back muscles I’d ever felt in my life.

I thought if this lady was to get a hold of me she would throw me on my head in literally one second flat. So I would not like to engage in a clinch fight with Ronda.

However, in true McGregor style, he’d still expect to end with the win: “But, make no mistake about it, I have my ways to win that fight, too!”

McGregor spoke ahead of Rousey’s title defence against Bethe Correia at Saturday’s UFC 190. He believes she is a “special individual” and the reason why women’s MMA is gaining popularity so rapidly: “As far as the women’s game she has created the women’s game. Without her all these women would still be going without food at night. So she is running her side of the game.”

Beating Chad Mendes at UFC 189 has earmarked McGregor as the targeted man in the featherweight division. His brutal second-round TKO came after he suppressed Mendes’ ground game in relaxed fashion, limiting the explosive American to short elbows when McGregor remained on his back.

McGregor’s ability to deal with the quality wrestler showed his game is far more than cocky movement and explosive hand power, marking his soon-to-be scheduled showdown with Jose Aldo as one of the organisation’s biggest-ever encounters. Aldo relinquished the belt due to injury, which saw Mendes step up to face Notorious, so hype for this bout continues to gain momentum.

“On the man’s side of the game there’s only one, and that is me,” said McGregor, turning his focus away from Rousey. “I hold every number in the game: the highest gate, the highest pay-per-view of the new era, the highest attended weigh-ins, the highest viewing figures on FOX, the highest subscriptions on Fight Pass.”

Aldo is currently top of the UFC’s official pound-for-pound rankings, with McGregor moving up to 13th after his win over Mendes. Nobody appears better set to enjoy the continued domination of a division like fourth-placed Rousey, though.

She is yet to experience defeat in her professional career, standing 11-0 since making her MMA debut in 2011 with a win over Ediane Gomes. Rowdy has spent just 30 seconds in the Octagon across her last two fights, and although Correia is also unbeaten, overcoming Ronda is a herculean task.

Rousey certainly expects to take control, tweeted by UFC:

Both McGregor and Rousey share a similar intensity and belief in their own abilities. They are always looking to progress and continually have to deal with challengers trying to usurp them on the ladder.

It’s rare to hear either doubt their skills in comparison to another fighter, so it’s refreshing to see McGregor holds so much respect for Rousey’s achievement and skills. The two are very much at the centre of UFC’s plans for the future.

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