Conor McGregor gears up for UFC 194 battle in front of raucous Irish fans as he insists Jose Aldo 'doesn't want to be here'

As the Irish contingent descended upon Las Vegas in their thousands, Conor McGregor promised them a night to remember.

Dublin's favourite fighting son - at least in mixed martial arts circles - was greeted by a raucous crowd as he completed the latest formality ahead of his clash with the UFC's featherweight champion on Jose Aldo.

He performed a light but extensive near 20-minute workout in the same MGM Grand Arena where he will bid to realise a lifelong dream on Saturday.

Conor McGregor shields a punch during his fans and media workout at the MGM Grand Arena on Thursday

UFC Interim Featherweight Champion McGregor raises a fist to salute the ardent Irish fans in Las Vegas

The Irishman lands a kick during the fans and media workout ahead of fighting Jose Aldo on Saturday

McGregor said: 'Respect for me is earned through battle. If he [Aldo] shows up and shows heart, he'll earn my respect.

'I can't respect a man who runs, who evades.

'I feel that he feels he's handcuffed and forced into this. He doesn't want to be here. He's confused, he doesn't know what's going on and he can't wait for it to be over.'

McGregor, who struggled with a knee injury when preparing for his first scheduled fight with Aldo in July, said he had no concerns ahead of Friday's weigh-in.

'I wasn't lying when I said I had a hell of a lot of adversity in that last camp,' he added.

'That's why you're seeing me in my prime, 'I'm looking good in my body and good in my face.'

Jose Aldo, wrapping his knuckles ahead of his fans and media workout, was greeted by a chorus of boos 

The Brazilian conducted a short but energetic workout before departing the mats to cheers

McGregor said 'Respect for me is earned through battle. If he (Aldo) shows heart, he'll earn my respect.'

Ninety minutes earlier, Aldo had entered to a chorus of boos.

Some Irish fans even showed off the little Portuguese they knew, screaming, 'u vai morrer' - you're going to die.

But he left the mat to cheers.

He said simply: 'Wherever this fight goes I'm winning this fight.'

McGregor treated fans to a 20-minute workout inside the MGM Grand Arena on Thursday 

UFC interim featherweight champion McGregor practises his kicking during the UFC 194 open workouts

Aldo lands a hit during the UFC 194 open workouts inside MGM Grand Arena ahead of Saturday's fight

The 27-year-old added, 'I feel that he feels he's handcuffed and forced into this. He doesn't want to be here.'

Sandwiched between the featherweights were Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold who feature in a co-main event worthy of headlining any other UFC card.

Weidman, the middleweight champion who ended Anderson Silva's legendary reign, said he was now comfortable in the spotlight.

'The only time I wasn't relaxed and I pretended to be relaxed was my first fight with Anderson Silva,' he said.

UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman (in blue) works out for fans at the MGM Arena 

Luke Rockhold, landing a kick in his open workout, fights Weidman at the co-main event in Las Vegas

'After that I became relaxed and after three more fights at the MGM I got used to being here.'

Rockhold, the former Strikeforce champion, said: 'Weidman is a ju jitsu wrestler, I've got wrestling and ju jitsu.

'I operate differently, you can't find someone who can mimic me. You can't prepare for what I bring.

'He's going to be scrambling to get back to his feet 'I'll have the upper hand everywhere.'

UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman waves to the crowd ahead of fighting Luke Rockhold in Las Vegas