UFC 264: The question whether Conor McGregor is still an elite UFC fighter will be answered on Sunday

Conor McGregor has sledged, cackled and interviewed his way through Fight Week -- but the one question that really matters won’t be answered until he enters the octagon on Sunday.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 23: In this handout image provided by the UFC, (L-R) Conor McGregor of Ireland punches Dustin Poirier in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Conor McGregor, we now know, expects to be a billionaire within three years.

That, and a UFC champion by December.

Just as we can tell you this fighting Irishman has abstained from whiskey since April, sparred two men the same day he made $600 million and has still never tasted Dustin Poirier’s signature hot sauce.

Watch Poirier v McGregor 3 at UFC 264 live on Main Event, available on Foxtel and Kayo on Sunday 11 July at 12pm AEST. ORDER NOW >

Can Conor McGregor rediscover his best, or has time passed him by?

Sure, regarding the latter, he was given a bottle back in January.

Even spruiked the Louisiana delicacy in those days prior to Poirier knocking him cold.

But as for what McGregor really thought of the condiment?

“Didn’t touch it,” the Irishman growled at Friday’s press conference for UFC 264, which opened with him throwing three of said bottles from the stage.

Next up, he called Poirier a “fake c...”.

Then took a shot at the American’s wife, Jolie.

“Your wife is your husband,” McGregor shouted at his rival, seated just metres away. “You’re a little bitch of a ’ting. A silly little hillbilly.”

Then, McGregor started chanting.

“Jolie’s wife ... Jolie’s wife ... Jolie’s wife ...”

Poirier gets the better of McGregor in their last fight back in January.

Which isn’t exactly the black belt tongue fu on which this UFC megastar earned his fame, right?

Or once had his mental warfare game likened to Muhammad Ali.

In fact, in terms of the press conference showdown, you could actually argue Poirier won.

With the killer blow arriving when one journalist asked Notorious how, given he was so cordial before the last fight, why he was now spitting so much hate?

“Because,” Poirer interjected, “he got knocked the f... out”.

A statement which landed far harder than, say, the kick McGregor thew when the pair eventually squared off.

Same deal when after a brief pause, and in reference to that McGregor Fast app his rival seems forever plugging, Poirier cackled: “Not McGregor Fast, McGregor Sleep”.

Which may not have been the 10-8 round some are suggesting.

But for the head of a Good Fight Foundation charity, it was a solid sledge.

Still, we digress.

McGregor picked up a cool $600 million for the sale of his Proper 12 Whiskey brand.

For really, the only question that matters isn’t any of those McGregor answered Friday before thousands of fans - many of whom chanted, waved Irish flags and booed Poirier every time he reached for the microphone.

Nor was it discussed in this week’s sit down interviews with a handful of outlets, including News Corp, where the fight icon was quizzed on everything from calf kicks and the $600 million sale of his Proper 12 Whiskey brand through to Donald Trump and boxing brothers Logan and Jake Paul.

Or as McGregor dubs them, “the dingbats”.

Yet again, none of that matters.

Or not really.

No, what matters is what happens when that cage door locks Sunday.

When stripped down to little more than jocks, gloves and a mouthpiece, this biggest name in all of combat sports gets to answer the one, giant question hanging heavy over his ripped 70kg frame: Are you still an elite fighter?

Here, truly, is what everyone wants to know.

A truth proved by the fact UFC 264 pre sales are already the largest in company history. Same as the list of VIP guests includes Trump, Justin Bieber and Machine Gun Kelly.

But celebrity doesn’t win you fights. Nor money. No, fighting wins fights.

The sporting world eagerly awaits Conor McGregor’s date with destiny.

With Sunday set to confirm if McGregor is still truly among the elites, or a former “champ champ” now on the downward run.

Which doesn’t mean there won’t still be big fights for him.

Just ask Nate Diaz.

Or Floyd Mayweather and the dingbats.

But know that while he was once king of the fight game, and indeed world sports, McGregor has in the past four years appeared just three times in the Octagon - losing twice. With his most recent showing, that second round TKO loss to Poirier.

A fight where the Irishman didn’t simply look human, but like a man for whom the game may have just passed him by.

So is the king dead? Or is he still good enough to not only beat Poirier, but potentially get himself that gold strap one last time?

Come Sunday, McGregor will answer that, too.

Originally published as UFC 264: The question whether Conor McGregor is still an elite UFC fighter will be answered on Sunday