This weekend, Conor McGregor makes his return to the UFC after a nearly 15-month layoff when he takes on Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. It’s one of the most highly anticipated bouts of the year but, unlike many other McGregor events, the trash talk heading into the bout has been pretty minimal. McGregor has seemingly been focused more on rehabilitating his image after a disastrous 2019. In fact, the only thing that could really be considered “trash talk” is a post McGregor made to Instagram declaring that “first one to shoot’s a Cowb*tch.”

McGregor has been considered one of the most dangerous strikers in MMA for some time but after his losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Nate Diaz, many fans are now questioning his ground game. Along those lines, Cerrone happens to be one of the most accomplished submission artists in the UFC and with that Instagram post it appears McGregor himself would prefer Cerrone not use though grappling skills on Saturday. And it appears “Cowboy” intends to oblige his opponent.

“You know, I probably should, but I don’t think I will,” Cerrone told Brett Okamoto of ESPN. “I like to fight too. I like to get in there and throw down. Everyone says his standup is amazing, so why not go and test it? Everyone says, ‘you want to just stand there, you’re going to get knocked out, that’s such a stupid game, that’s a stupid decision.’ But it’s my decision. It’s my stupidity. Who the f*ck are you to tell me what I can do?”

“I know who I am. I look in the mirror, I know exactly who I am so I get to go and make the decision. I want to. Why wouldn’t I want to stand with one of the best? Why not? Can I take the punch? That’s the question I want to know. Can he take my f*cking kicks? That’s the question I want to know. Maybe Conor will shoot on me and I’ll do just like [I did against Mike] Perry and say, ‘Oh, let’s go!’”

And apparently that’s all part of the plan. Cerrone is currently riding a two-fight losing streak heading into UFC 246 and should standing with McGregor not work out for him, Cowboy will have lost three in a row and be well outside of the title conversation. It’s something that Cowboy said “would really chap my ass” and so, heading into UFC 246, Cerrone says he’s taken the rare step (for him) of actually developing a game plan for the fight.

“As far as game plan, this is probably the strongest game plan I’ve ever had going into a fight,” Cerrone said. “Usually I just go in there and say, ‘Let’s rip it! Let’s go!’ Yeah, we’ve got a game plan and if the game plan don’t work, we’ve got a backup game plan to go for that one.”

Time will tell whether Cerrone’s game plans work or, realistically, whether he will even follow them come Saturday. Cerrone himself admits that sometimes the things he’s prepared in camp give way to the fight itself. Even so, Cowboy knows that for this, arguably the biggest fight of his life, he’s prepared for every facet of McGregor’s game and he intends to go out there and do what he loves.

“You’d be a f*cking fool to think I’m sitting here saying, ‘All Conor has is a right hand and that’s all we need to worry about,’” Cerrone said. “You stupid motherf*ckers. Yeah, do I play? Sure. But man we put hours in the gym. We have a huge team of guys that are behind me and support me and their sole job is to watch film and train me exactly to what we’re gonna do... But you know what? It’s my decision. I get to do what I want to do. So yeah, I am going to f*cking stand and I am going to play.”

UFC 246 takes place this Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

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MUST-READ STORIES

Excuses. Conor McGregor admits to drinking alcohol just days ahead of Khabib Nurmagomedov fight.

Plans. Dana White: Conor McGregor banking on Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson not happening.

Not sold. Alexander Volkanovski explains why he’s not sold on Max Holloway receiving automatic rematch.

Title shot. Kamaru Usman knows Jorge Masvidal as the guy who wants a title shot without earning it.

Dismissed. Paul Daley no longer part of Bellator broadcast team.

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VIDEO STEW

Embedded 2.

Every Americana finish in UFC history.

Bellator Countdown.

Anatomy of UFC 246.

The unluckiest careers in mma history.

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LISTEN UP

Anik & Florian. Previewing UFC 246 with Ray Longo.

UFC Unfiltered. Interviews with Roxanne Modafferii and Sodiq Yusuff.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

UFC support Australia.

It’s been over two years since Bader has defended his 205 belt.

Respect.

What a hero.

MMAFighting’s winner of Submission of the Year for 2019.

Fight soon.

Goals.

Nope.

Turn it up.

Antonio Brown will be in the UFC by 2021.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Neil Magny (21-7) vs. Li Jingliang (17-5); UFC 248, March 7.

Kevin Lee (18-5) vs. Charles Oliveira (28-8, 1 NC); UFC Brasilia, March 14.

Gian Villante (17-11) vs. Ben Rothwell (37-12); UFC 249, April 18.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

This has nothing to do with fighting but Ken Jennings is an absolute legend. The undisputed Jeopardy GOAT.

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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