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Conor McGregor: Ronda Rousey 'would throw me on my head in literally one second'

Ronda Rousey is quite the imposing figure. Just ask her opponents; the majority of whom were finished inside the first round.

Heck, even four-time NBA MVP LeBron James gets nervous around “Rowdy.”

At 28, Rousey is one of the most feared and respected champions in all of combat sports. One fighter who recognizes Rousey’s skill – and is impressed by her physique – is UFC interim featherweight champion Conor McGregor.

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“Notorious” is not one for throwing praise at his contemporaries; in fact, it’s usually the opposite. But the flamboyant champion makes an exception for Rousey.

“I certainly would not like to end up in a tie-up with Miss Rousey,” McGregor told SINow. “I remember one time when I’d seen her and I greeted her and said 'What’s up champ' and we embraced. And I swear on my life her back muscles were the most solidest (sic) back muscles I’d ever felt in my life.

Conor McGregor will likely meet Jose Aldo in a unification bout on Dec. 5 at AT&T Stadium. (Getty)
Conor McGregor will likely meet Jose Aldo in a unification bout on Dec. 5 at AT&T Stadium. (Getty)

“I thought if this lady was to get a hold of me she would throw me on my head in literally one second flat. So I would not like to engage in a clinch fight with Ronda.”

McGregor admits that Rousey is a ‘special individual’ but quickly follows it up (hypothetically) by saying, “I have my ways to win that fight, too.”

You would be hard pressed to find two bigger stars in MMA today than Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor. Rousey, to her credit, is also a blossoming Hollywood starlet – she has summer movie roles in "Fast 7" and "Entourage" – but McGregor is a star in his own right, with people like Arnold Schwarzenegger clamoring for a photo with the champ.

McGregor is coming off a wildly successful fight against Chad Mendes at UFC 189 in early July, and Rousey defends her belt this Saturday at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro.

And if Rousey and McGregor are linked side by side as this generation's flagship commodities, then that’s just fine with “Mystic Mac.”

“On the man’s side of the game there’s only one, and that is me,” he said. “I hold every number in the game: the highest gate, the highest pay-per-view of the new era, the highest attended weigh-ins, the highest viewing figures on FOX, the highest subscriptions on Fight Pass. Every single record I have, at 27 years of age, so I am running the numbers game.

“As far as the women’s game, she has created the women’s game. Without her all these women would be still going without food at night. So, she is running her side of the game.”

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Ryan McKinnell is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports Cagewriter blog. Have a tip? Email him or