Conor McGregor: I'll KO Floyd Mayweather within two rounds in lighter gloves

Leading up to his Aug. 26 bout against Floyd Mayweather, Conor McGregor has predicted he will finish Floyd Mayweather inside of four rounds. A new wrinkle could possibly alter how the fight plays as out.

Mayweather took to Instagram last week saying he wants the fight in eight-ounce gloves. Next Thursday, the Nevada Athletic Commission will hold a hearing on the matter, in which Mayweather and McGregor will plead their case on why the fight should go from 10 ounce to eight-ounce gloves.

McGregor boldly made a new proclamation today after his open media workout if the rule change comes into effect.

“If we’re eight ounces, I’m struggling to give him two rounds, and that’s the God’s honest truth,” McGregor said. “The only reason I maybe give him two rounds is because in this game the referee stops me from pounding his head into the canvas, and he has 10 seconds to recover. That’s the only reason why he might get to the second round.”

Typically under the Nevada commission rules, in any fight at 147 pounds or more, 10 ounce gloves are mandated — Mayweather and McGregor are fighting at 154 pounds.

Even if the fight is still contested with Mayweather and McGregor having to use 10-ounce gloves, the UFC lightweight champion remains confident, especially after watching Mayweather's open workout on Thursday.

“I see a beaten man in his eyes, in his body language, in everything he does,” McGregor said.

Steven Muehlhausen is an MMA and boxing writer and contributor for Sporting News. You can listen to his podcast, "The Fight Junkies" here. You can email him at stevemuehlhausen@yahoo.com and can find him on Twitter @SMuehlhausenMMA.