Conor McGregor unveils his ambitious five-year UFC plan

Conor McGregor

(This story appears in today’s edition of USA TODAY.)

MMA fighters are typically hesitant to look beyond their next bout. However, Conor McGregor has never been a typical fighter.

“The Notorious,” who’s made a quick splash since his 2013 UFC debut, has formed a habit of mapping out his career several steps in advance. He hopes it’ll eventually lead to superstardom – and a swollen bank account.

The 26-year-old accurately foreshadowed the outcomes of his past two fights, he predicted his sudden rise to UFC prominence, and he’s declared the featherweight title will soon be his.

He doesn’t have the gold yet, but he’s one victory away from getting his shot. If McGregor (16-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) can defeat Dennis Siver (22-9, 11-6) in Sunday’s “UFC Fight Night 59: McGregor vs. Siver” headliner at Boston’s TD Garden (7 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1), he’ll challenge UFC champion Jose Aldo later this year.

According to UFC President Dana White, the potential title fight could take place in Las Vegas, or possibly McGregor’s native Ireland. However, winning the belt is just the beginning of the fighter’s lofty five-year plan.

“I definitely want to go down as the greatest of all time, and I definitely want to make a hell of a lot of money in the process,” McGregor tells USA TODAY Sports and MMAjunkie. “Five years down the road? I don’t really plan long term. I live my long-term goals every day in my reality, but in my mind, I am already a multiple-weight world champion.”

McGregor, who held two titles with the U.K.-based Cage Warriors promotion before signing with the UFC, says he doesn’t look past opponents; instead, he says, he looks through them. He expects to handily defeat Siver, a 10-1 underdog according to the oddsmakers, and then dethrone Aldo, who’s emerged as one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters during his current 18-fight winning streak.

Once the belt is around his waist, McGregor has a number of passion projects he wants to pursue in the sport. Most notably, the Irishman is determined to face an opponent with a strong wrestling base. Fans and countless fellow fighters have criticized the promotional push the UFC has given McGregor, especially since he’s yet to face an elite grappler in UFC competition.

Should he get the title, McGregor says his first goal is to defend it against the likes of top contenders Frankie Edgar or Chad Mendes, former collegiate wrestlers who would be relentless in the pursuit of takedowns.

“After I take the belt from Jose in my home country, the wrestler question is a question I’d like to answer,” McGregor says. “The fans keep bringing up the wrestler scenario, and I’d like to answer that question.”

The plan doesn’t stop there, though. After a few title defenses and solidifying his status as the world’s top 145-pounder, he wants to jump up a weight class, win the lightweight belt, and become just the third fighter in UFC history to capture titles in two divisions.

“I’ll defend my belt, and then it’s on to the 155-pound weight division,” McGregor says. “After that, I’ll be winning the belt at 155, and then we’ll go from there.”

His predictions may be bold, but McGregor speaks with conviction. Still, the grand plans have riled some of his colleagues. Most notably? Sunday’s opponent, Siver, who’s eager to play spoiler to one of the UFC’s hottest commodities.

“I’m going to leave the octagon as the winner, I’m going to leave the octagon as the spoiler, and Conor’s title shot is going away,” he said.

For more on UFC Fight Night 59, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.