Morning Report: Conor McGregor explains why he'll have no fear fighting Nate Diaz at UFC 196

Conor McGregor's confidence hasn't seemed to waver as we push deeper into fight week.

Speaking with Colin Cowherd Tuesday, McGregor sounded more concerned about getting a second breakfast than his five-round bout with Nate Diaz this Saturday at UFC 196.

"You know, for me [the Octagon] is where I'm almost the least nervous," McGregor said on pre-fight jitters. "There are other things that might make me nervous. Things like doing the Conan O'Brien Show. I might get a little more nervous for these unusual things than I would walking out to the Octagon. Walking out to Octagon and stepping into a cage is something I literally do every single day of my life. I step foot inside an Octagon and train and compete.

"It's just another day for me. I'm unshackling chains off me when I make that walk. It's freedom for me in there. I get to go in. I have nobody telling me what I can do or how I can do it. I'm free to paint the picture how I want. That's it. I enter, I come out the gate fast and I spin and I set the tone for the unorthodox and then set my opponent up for a KO blow and then I execute it. It's simply another day for me."

The buildup between McGregor and Diaz hasn't been long, but it's been explosive. If the Irishman reigns as the sport's top trash talker, Diaz and his brother Nick aren't far behind.

McGregor says he's counting on Diaz talking to him in the cage, but that ultimately it's all about business.

"I don't really hate Nate," said McGregor. "I have no hate for any man that is on the same journey as me. We're all chasing the same dream here so I can't hate the man with the same dream as me. For me, it's business. There is no emotion there. I go in and I decipher his movements, I decipher his reactions and I make a trap for him and I walk him into the trap. Whether situations in the fight are being verbalized, this is just another day inside the Octagon.

"They talk while they do their work but Nate is no different and I am no different. I'm sure there will be talking but it is business. There is no hate. There is cold."

McGregor faces Diaz March 5 in the main event at UFC 196 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

5 MUST-READ STORIES

'You can never be ready enough for a fight anyway.' Nate Diaz says he "might get murked" by Conor McGregor, but he "doesn't care."

'His pressure and volume is just tough to deal with for anybody.' Frankie Edgar says Nate Diaz has a "real shot" to "spoil the party" against Conor McGregor.

Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas discusses Anderson Silva vs. Michael Bisping, previews UFC 196 and more in this week's live chat.

Fortunes changed for five. Dave Melzter explains how Michael Bisping, Anderson Silva, Gegard Mousasi, Thales Leites and Tom Breese move forward following UFC Fight Night: London.

Kimbo bump? Coming the week after a heavily criticized event, and with the handicap of losing the main event the day before, Bellator 150 still posted above average numbers with 733,000 viewers on Friday night.

MEDIA STEW

UFC 196 Countdown.

UFC 196 embedded episode 2.

Dan Hardy breaks down Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz.

Joe Lauzon vlogged his Monday at the gym.

Chael Sonnen talks Conor, Ronda, and The Apprentice.

Jon Jones really didn't appreciate Daniel Cormier's jokes.

Long watches.

If I Did It: Nick Diaz, Michael Jordan, Anderson Silva, more

...

...

TWEETS

Responding to Jones.

Beef.

Thanks to all the fans who took time to send me something to retaliate with. It's so easy that I... https://t.co/FEEaC8JDg4

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) March 2, 2016

(and then deleted it)

"This is a sport , right? People wanted me to have murdered my opponent. This is a sport, is not it? So why do people expected me to kill my opponent ?!"

Isso é um esporte né ? As pessoas queriam que eu tivesse assasinado o meu adversário. This is a sport, isn't it ? So why do people expected me to kill my opponent?!

A video posted by Anderson Silva (@spiderandersonsilva) on Mar 1, 2016 at 10:39am PST

Soon.

Diaz vs Mcgregor this Saturday!! #ninjashit pic.twitter.com/Euyjq5kaJ0

— Dana White (@danawhite) March 1, 2016

On the move.

I've officially been released. It's been a pleasure and privilege to fight for the UFC. I am now currently looking for a fight elsewhere.

— Daron Cruickshank (@Cruickshank155) March 1, 2016

Old man Sage.

HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY TO MY AWESOME BROTHER @sagenorthcutt ! I love you and am so proud of you! pic.twitter.com/0YYqA6nuPK

— Colbey Northcutt (@colbeynorthcutt) March 1, 2016

The ref seemed concerned ... about Browne.

6 days after Travis & I fought where I was fouled 2x with Travis having no repercussions via ref, he asks THIS? Wow. pic.twitter.com/CxyfwVcg4Q

— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) March 1, 2016

Just Conor laughing like a maniac.

$hit @TheNotoriousMMA Says: A Good Laugh#UFC196https://t.co/091ZBjAKIx

— UFC (@ufc) March 2, 2016

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Mar. 1 2016)

Gunnar Nelson vs. Albert Tumenov at UFC Fight Night: Arlovski vs. Overeem

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via Jay Dann.

UFC London: Bisping vs. Silva - Opportunity Missed? Jay Dann takes a look at this weekend's UFC London event, and whether an opportunity was missed not having it aired on TV.

Saturday night saw the biggest MMA event the UK has hosted in a number of years. The main event, a long awaited clash between Michael Bisping and Anderson Silva, lived up to expectation in what was an enthralling contest, with Bisping victorious on home soil.

One of, if not the biggest victory in the UFC by a British fighter, but there was just one problem. The event was not shown on British television, it was shown exclusively on UFC Fight Pass, the UFC's online streaming service. Bisping was exceptional and British fans missed seeing a career defining performance from their biggest home-grown star.

For the uninitiated, the UFC has a television deal in the UK with BT Sport, but, in an odd turn of events, the two companies could not come to an agreement to air the fight card.

...

Check out the rest of the post here.

Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.