Conor McGregor claims he would have been happy to lose money on the Black Forge Inn after purchasing the pub for €2million.
The UFC star has reportedly pumped another €1million into the Crumlin boozer in renovations and recently claimed it is “the greatest public house on earth”.
But McGregor says he did not buy the pub, which he visited for many years before purchasing, to make profit.
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He explained: "It’s very, very dear to my heart this premises.
"I did not buy this pub for profit. I did not have any type of profit in my head in this.
"I would have been happy losing money here to be honest with you. I just wanted to buy it. Redo it.”
McGregor added: "It’s a place I’ve been coming here for many, many years. Myself and my fiancee. And our families love it.
"It’s been a place we’ve visited since our teens.
"Trying to even get into the place before we were allowed into the place type of thing."
McGregor has been pictured drinking at the pub numerous times over the past few months, but he has promised to ditch the booze ahead of his octagon return.
Meanwhile, his UFC rival Islam Makhachev has claimed that McGregor is "too drunk" to return to the lightweight division.
Makhachev has confirmed he would be willing to face McGregor on his comeback, but believes he is in far worse shape than when he fought his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov.
"I think this is fake for the fans; it would make it interesting but I think this is fake," Makhachev told ESPN MMA when asked about an immediate title shot for McGregor. "I think it will be very hard for him to make 155lb because he is drunk all day.
"A lot of people are going to smash him in this division. He is going to just fight Nate Diaz or some old people to make some money. He is never going to champion and he will never compete at this level.
"He just plays game he will never take this fight with me because he knows it is going to be a long night for him, after what Khabib did to him.
"He is not the same now, when he fought Khabib he was in good shape and not drunk too much but now he has to retire.
"This guy has money and everything but if he wants to comeback, let's do it. I will smash him."
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