Dennis Siver: 'McGregor's mouth will finally be closed'

The way this Sunday's UFC Fight Night is being promoted, a fight fan could be forgiven for believing that the main event will consist solely of Conor McGregor showing up and having a spotlight shone on him as he stands around in a fancy suit, beaming and basking in applause of the partisan Boston crowd.

In fact, McGregor will face the most experienced and winningest UFC opponent he ever has at the TD Garden this weekend in Dennis Siver.

Siver spoke with FOX Sports from Boston this week, the day after his 36th birthday, and dismissed McGregor's heavily favored status as soon as he acknowledged it. "I'm very undervalued in this fight," Siver said through his translator Oliver.

"I've been the underdog in a lot of fights, and I've won a lot of those. This fight I'm being counted out, but all that matters is how we fight in the cage Sunday night."

There's been a large amount of pre-fight trash talk from McGregor, and Siver says he's never faced so much vitriol from an opponent, but says he's used it as fuel.

"No, I've never had an opponent talk this much [expletive] to me before, but it doesn't distract me at all," Siver insists. "Actually, it has helped focus me in training."

There isn't a whole lot that the karate expert will concede to his opponent, 10 years his junior. McGregor and his camp maintain that he will enjoy a major speed advantage over Siver, but the German is unconvinced.

"Let's see if Conor is the faster fighter come fight night," Siver says.

Whatever advantages the quick, powerful and young McGregor may or may not have, the veteran Siver is certain that he will have a major one: experience. "I know that I've been everywhere in the Octagon," he says with confidence.

"He's fought in the UFC a few times, but I've been here for years, and seen everything."

Siver has seen in his mind's eye what an upset win will look and sound like.

"I have visualized what it will be like to win Sunday night in Boston," he said. "The crowd will be silent when they raise my arm, but more important than that, Conor McGregor's mouth will finally be closed and his voice silenced."