Video: It's getting harder for UFC's Conor McGregor to spend his money

There are very few personality traits one would assume are shared by the legendarily humble Bruce Lee and brash UFC superstar Conor McGregor. Still, McGregor referenced a quote by Lee when asked to explain his cocky personality.

“Know yourself to know others, as Bruce Lee said,” McGregor (17-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) said this past weekend while in Las Vegas at UFC 183. “I feel that I know myself and, I don’t know, I’m a confident man.”

McGregor was also very open about his financial strategy. While many fighters tend to allow a manager or someone around them to control their money, McGregor said he’s the one in charge.

“You should be in control of your own finances,” McGregor said. “You should be. I don’t have a manager, you know? I have an agent, and I have people who work for me, but I am in control of everything that goes on in my life – inside and outside – and I think that’s the way it should be.”

McGregor doesn’t have to look too far for inspiration. Even a massive superstar in the fight game like Manny Pacquiao has had members of his own team discuss how he was “broke” even at the peak of his career. For McGregor, that’s all the more reason to take control of his finances.

“I look at other athletes from maybe boxing or something like that – or even MMA – they let people take advantage and take control of their situation,” McGregor said. “Nobody takes control of my situation except me. I am in control inside the octagon and outside the octagon.”

McGregor still isn’t the most mature man in the world when it comes to money. He’s previously said that he likes to spend his entire fight purse to keep from getting too comfortable. That attitude does seem to be changing. However, it might be more a result of the rapidly increasing amount of money he’s bringing in rather than a complete maturation.

“I haven’t had time to even stop and think,” McGregor said when asked how much of his purse from his fight with Dennis Siver he’d spent. “I think I’m kind of liking that. Just keep the train rolling, keep going and keep focusing. Straight back into the gym. I think I’m growing up a little bit. But, don’t get me wrong, I still like – it’s getting harder to spend, let’s just say that.”

McGregor is set to face Jose Aldo (25-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) for the UFC featherweight championship at UFC 189 in July.

For more on UFC 189, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.