• UFC Sweden

McGregor: I'll finish 'intermediate' Brimage in 3 mins

NEW: ESPN Fantasy Fighter - enter now and you could win a range of fantastic UFC prizes.

Conor McGregor has stoked the fires ahead of his UFC debut against Marcus Brimage, telling his rival he will finish him inside three minutes.

McGregor has already vowed to "steal the show" in Sweden, where he makes his first splash as a UFC featherweight after dominating the domestic scene with an eight-fight win streak.

Standing opposite him in Stockholm is American Brimage, who defeated the tricky Jimy Hettes in his last outing. Brimage has won all three of his UFC fights, going to a decision in every one of them.

However, McGregor does not expect his opponent to last three minutes, let alone three rounds, on April 6, and has responded to Brimage's recent taunt that McGregor "has not fought anyone" and will "turn into a wrestler once he has been touched".

"I honestly don't see him (Brimage) getting past the three-minute mark with me," McGregor told ESPN.

"I don't read or watch interviews. I don't even watch his fights. I'll watch half of the first round [of his last fight] but I wouldn't watch anymore.

"People tweet me his quotes, he's dropping names about who he's sparring with. If I was to comment on his boxing skills, I'd say he's an intermediate.

"I wouldn't even give him senior level, he's not a pro. He's an amateur or intermediate, he's limited with his movement and I'll be exploiting those movements in there.

"He'll give me a few exchanges, but I don't care. I'll submit him if it comes. We'll exchange on the feet, but I don't care where the fight goes."

McGregor has vowed to one day hold the UFC title, and arrives in the UFC with a huge Irish following. His bout, despite not appearing on the main card, is attracting enormous attention ahead of UFC Sweden.

Follow Ben Blackmore on Twitter

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.