Conor McGregor enjoys double breakfasts and barbecue meat as the bulkier UFC star prepares for fight with Nate Diaz

Perhaps the biggest decision Conor McGregor has had to make this week is what to eat for breakfast.

In the end he helped himself to two; scrambled eggs and toast followed by a bowl of porridge. For McGregor, this has been a fight week like no other.

The Irishman was already relishing the opportunity to lose 10lb less than normal in order to face lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos before the Brazilian broke his foot and withdrew from their UFC 196 clash. 

Conor McGregor enjoyed a breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast followed by a bowl of porridge this week

The UFC superstar is bulking up ahead of his highly-anticipated fight with Nate Diaz at the weekend 

McGregor, who is piling on 25lbs for the fight in Las Vegas, goes outside his house while on a video conference

A YouTube video uploaded this week shows the outside of the Irishman's house and his fleet of cars

Instead McGregor will face Nate Diaz at the welterweight limit of 170lb, meaning he will weigh in a staggering 25lb heavier than he did before dethroning Jose Aldo in 13 seconds last December.

'It's certainly been enjoyable,' he says. 'It's different to wake up and have a choice of food and be able to eat out.

'I'm almost living a normal life. There is no adjustment, it is just me going in as I am and that's how it should be.

'I have been a featherweight fighter for most of my career but I have fought many times at lightweight. My training partners are top-quality welterweights; I came up training and sparring with welterweights.'

Indeed, the sight of McGregor tucking into a Brazilian barbecue earlier this week in Los Angeles was in stark contrast to the gaunt figure we have become used to seeing as his fights approach.

As his coach John Kavanagh often quips: 'You've seen him on salads, watch what happens when he's on steaks.'

The 27-year-old Dublin-born star also tucked into a Brazilian barbecue earlier this week in Los Angeles

McGregor appeared in buoyant mood as he enjoyed dining out in LA ahead of his fight against Diaz 

The Irishman has admitted the weight gain for his upcoming fight has enabled him to 'almost live a normal life'

There is, however, method to the apparent madness of a fighter reducing himself to a mere skeleton before stepping on to the scales.

By previously dieting down to 145lb, McGregor gave himself the best chance of being heavier than his opponent when they met in the Octagon.

Before beating Aldo to win the featherweight title, he was reported to have gained almost 30lb by rehydrating between the weigh-in and the first bell.

That process aims to reverse the draining weight cut which involves limiting water and carbohydrate intake as the week progresses in addition to taking hot baths and saunas.

He'll weigh in staggering 25lb heavier than he did before beating Jose Aldo in 13 seconds last December (right)

McGregor poses on the scale during the weigh-in for UFC 194 in Las Vegas, where he defeated Aldo last year

Michael Bisping, for example, lost as much as a stone in the seven days before his fight against Anderson Silva last weekend but it is not uncommon for a fighter to lose 20lb in just five days.

The danger of moving up a weight division, or two in McGregor's case, is that a fighter can lose speed due to the added bulk.

But the 27-year-old insists that won't be the case.

'Preparation for a 145lb person, a 155lb person and a 170lb person is different, but my speed will be there and my power will certainly be there,' he says. 'The questions have been asked and I'll show up Saturday night.'

McGregor's trainer partner, welterweight Gunnar Nelson (left) has been impressed with his weight gain

Striking coach Owen Roddy (left, pictured during a workout this week) is confident McGregor will perform well

McGregor's trainer partner, welterweight Gunnar Nelson, agrees, saying: 'His body looks and feels natural. He's stronger and even faster at this weight.'

And striking coach Owen Roddy adds: 'I think he's going to have a lot more energy. He still moves as quickly as he did at featherweight but he carries more muscle.'

Moving between divisions is nothing new in combat sports; Manny Pacquiao has won boxing world titles at eight different weights, from flyweight at 112lb to welterweight at 147lb.

Michael Bisping lost as much as a stone in seven days before his fight against Anderson Silva last weekend

Manny Pacquiao has won world titles at eight different weights, from flyweight at 112lb to welterweight at 147lb

Amir Khan will face Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in May at 155lb having previously fought at 140lb but even that jump pales into insignificance when compared to McGregor's.

And the Dubliner may not be finished there, claiming he could continue on to the UFC middleweight limit of 185lb.

'As I keep growing and eating and training, my body could change as I get older,' he says. 'I could become a solid block at 170lb. And then I'd have to go to 185lb.

'It would be like going from 145lb to 155lb so I have no problems doing that.' 

Amir Khan (right) will face Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (left) in May at 155lb having previously fought at 140lb