CONOR MCGREGOR claims to be more than ready for Nate Diaz’s grappling should the action spill to the ground in their upcoming rematch at UFC 202.

Although the true damage was done on the feet when Diaz (19-10 MMA, 14-8 UFC) beat McGregor (19-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in their first meeting at UFC 196 in March, the final sequence came on the ground, when “The Notorious” shot for an ill-advised takedown that allowed Diaz to get on top, pound away with a few strikes and finish the job by submission.

McGregor, 28, didn’t exactly look helpless on the ground. He had a bright moment in that area when he swept Diaz in the first round. However, when he was fatigued and slowed by strikes, he was no match for Diaz, whose nine submissions are the most in modern UFC history.

Ahead of UFC 202, which takes place on August 20 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, McGregor said he would be ready to go head-to-head and not just hang with, but best Diaz’s jiu-jitsu if the situation arises.

“I don’t think the difference between us in that fight was the jiu-jitsu; I think it was the durability, the endurance, the experience,” McGregor said on a recent UFC 202 media conference call. “I think that was the difference. When we were both fresh, I ended up in the mat and caught that kick and he did that takedown he does, and I swept him.

“I am confident on the mat with Nate. After that, I’ve brought in heavier people, more experienced jiu-jitsu people, to come in and push me daily. I will be experienced for his jiu-jitsu in the later rounds, also.”

McGregor, the UFC featherweight champion who will again meet Diaz in a welterweight bout, received some flack for his grappling coming out of the first fight. He dispelled that notion, pointing out that the fight-ending sequence came at a time when his ability to compete was already seriously compromised.

But he said he’s not flustered by the critics, and going into the rematch, he has the confidence of five months of additional work to make up for any shortcomings. That includes being ready for the physical disparities between him and his opponent.

“People can say what the (expletive) they want,” McGregor said. “I didn’t feel his weight anywhere until that moment, until when he sprawled. When I went to turn away from mount and regain guard or something, he sprawled me out at the right time and that was it. It was done at that stage, but (expletive) it. I’ll take that one on the chin.”

McGregor admitted that UFC 202 is “100 per cent” the most important fight of his career so far, even more so than his two UFC championship bouts. The loss to Diaz was a blow to his soaring superstar status, but the brash Irishman can get it all back with one victory.

As the UFC’s 145-pound champion, McGregor could have easily gone back to his weight class and defended the title after losing to Diaz earlier this year. He chose to pursue a rematch, though, and while a second loss would be crushing, McGregor said that’s the type of risk he’s approached his entire career with.

“When people look back on my career, I’m just a kid that came from nothing and done it, went all the (expletive) way,” McGregor said. “I showed up all the time, showed up to fight every time. There’s a lot of (expletives) in this game. I’ve said it before – other people that claim they want to fight and they want to do this and they want to do that. They don’t do jack (expletive). I bring it every time. I’m not afraid of no challenges. That’s how my career will be remembered: a guy that showed up to fight every single time.”