Conor McGregor won't return to featherweight until contender emerges

Conor McGregor will make his UFC debut outside the featherweight division at UFC 196 on Saturday against Nate Diaz, and he's not planning on returning to 145 pounds any time soon.

"The thing is making that cut to 145, people only see the buildup, the fight. People don't see after the fight. It's a process to get your body back right after a strenuous cut like that," McGregor said Wednesday, according to Damon Martin of FOX Sports. "This time I'm waking up 168 (pounds). I'm waking up under weight so after the fight I won't have that process to get myself back right again. I'll be just me normally."

While cutting weight is a factor, McGregor seems hell-bent on working his way through other divisions because he believes there's a dearth of talent at 145 pounds.

"Who is there, though? Let me see some of these damn bums gear up and fight and make some noise," McGregor said. "I just hear crying, complaining, please, begging, all this (expletive). I don't see nothing appealing. They need to build themselves up right now.

"I'm sitting pretty over here. They need to fight and make something, make some noise, make me stand up and say, 'OK I'll take him.' That's what I need to see."

With a sterling seven-fight UFC win streak at featherweight intact, McGregor is not going to test the waters until a big-money draw is available in that division.

Some have questioned whether he could easily cut enough weight after bulking up to nearly 170 pounds for his welterweight bout, but McGregor insists that's not a factor.

"I can go back to 145 no problem."