Conor McGregor wary of tangling with UFC champ Ronda Rousey

— -- Conor McGregor isn't one to lack confidence.

But the interim UFC featherweight champion knows where he stands when it comes to fellow mixed martial arts star Ronda Rousey, admitting that she isn't someone he'd want to tangle with in the Octagon.

"I swear on my life her back muscles were the most solidest back muscles I'd ever felt in my life," McGregor said in an interview with SI Now, recalling a time when he saw Rousey and embraced her. "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 still thinks he could find a way to prevail, though.

"But, make no mistake about it, I have my ways to win that fight, too," he said.

McGregor recorded a second-round knockout victory over Chad Mendes earlier this month to improve to 18-2 and claim the interim featherweight title.

Rousey, meanwhile, will put her 11-0 record and bantamweight title on the line against Bethe Correia at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night.

McGregor, in the interview with SI Now, credited Rousey with breaking ground in the UFC but says he's the face of the promotion.

"Ronda is certainly an absolute animal, and she is a special individual," he said. "Two-time ESPYS winner, undefeated champion, dominant, finishes all opponents, movie star. I mean Ronda is unbelievable.

"She has created the women's game. Without her, all these women still would be going without food at night.

"But make no mistake about it: On the man's side of the game, there's only one, and that's me. I hold every number in the game."