One to watch! Conor McGregor promises UFC rematch with Nate Diaz will be 'a rollercoaster'... and reveals first big indulgence was a gold Rolex

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His amazing rise to stardom was brought to a shuddering halt when he was choked to submission during his headlining fight with Nate Diaz.

But confident Conor McGregor has promised their Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight rematch this weekend in Las Vegas will be a 'rollercoaster.'

As if that was not enough, the 28-year-old UFC featherweight champion also revealed his first big indulgence when as he began to make it as a fighter was a gold Rolex watch.

Thrills and spills: Conor McGregor has promised his upcoming UFC rematch with Nate Diaz will be a 'rollercoaster.'

Speaking about clashing with Diaz with Haute Time, the famously cocky brawler said: 'Why go through life if you’re not going to challenge yourself? Life’s a rollercoaster. You’re up one minute; you’re down one minute.

'But who doesn’t like rollercoasters? I mean, you want them challenges. You might win some, you might lose some. But you go in, you challenge yourself, you become a better man, a better individual, a better fighter.'

The popular Irish fighter was on a 15 fight win streak when he clashed in March with Diaz, a last minute replacement after his intended opponent, lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, was forced to pull out after breaking his foot.

Not only did he miss out on the opportunity to be the franchise's first duel-weight champion, but he ended up losing on his welterweight debut, a rise in weight class forced as Diaz could not shed enough pounds after having only 11 days to prepare.

Not long now: The Irish brawler will be fighting his nemesis in Las Vegas this weekend

Battle of the southpaws: But Conor ended up being effortlessly submitted by his larger opponent

But the southpaw said he is relishing the chance at getting revenge, even if the odds may be stacked against the naturally smaller man, who is three inches shorter than his 6ft opponent.

He said: 'It’s not hard for me to get out of bed and work very, very hard when I’m facing challenges. That’s what I want to do. I want to seek challenges. And that’s what the fans have latched into.'

But life is not all black eyes and sweaty training sessions for the self-styled hardman.

The new Chris Eubank: He is both a fan of expensive watches and flamboyant suits

For becoming a world famous fighter has allowed him to indulge in his love of the finer thing in life, including his passion for expensive timepieces.

He said: 'Watches have always been something that just appeal to me. There’s something about having a really nice, quality watch on your wrist. Especially on my left wrist. 

'When I feel the weight of it, I feel like…it takes you back to the caveman days, when you’d kill an animal and you would take something and put it around your neck as a symbol of what we have done. "We have conquered this."'

On the throne: The UFC featherweight champion said his first big purchase was a gold Rolex 

Quite. And the man named Ireland's Most Stylish Man of 2015 even said his first major purchase as he began to make it as a professional brawler was a gold Rolex, a passion he has continued to indulge in ever since.

Conor said: 'When I have won a big fight and collect a big check, I’ll purchase a beautiful watch and I’ll put it on my left hand. My left hand that I have cracked on my opponent. That hand has got me my fill. It feels like I’ve earned it.

'I have a nice collection now. I have some Audemars. I have some Hublots. I have some Rolexes. I’ve been looking at Richard Milles. They’re a big purchase, the Richard Milles, so I’m not going to jump into it.'

In the closet: Conor showing off the watch drawer in his massive walk-in wardrobe

Indeed he has spent so much of his winnings on watches, the Dublin native, who also has a taste for Chris Eubank-esque flamboyant suits, even said he even has a special drawer filled with the expensive timepieces in that most important of amenities for the successful hardman - his massive walk-in wardrobe.

Conor, who admitted it is 'hard not to look' at soccer hunk Cristiano Ronaldo when discussing his favourite athletes, also took the opportunity to poke fun at professional boxing, with its myriad of governing bodies and its constant struggle to have the best fighters face off against each other.

After boasting he always strives to take on the toughest fighters, he said: 'In this age where there’s so many organizations, so many belts, so many stipulations, so many business plans…the best don’t fight the best anymore. The best fight the worst.”

The face of UFC: The wildly popular Irish fighter is the reigning featherweight champion and is aiming to win more titles

Ready to rumble: Diaz did not look intimidated at the pre-fight press conference Wednesday