Ariel Helwani's MMA Show on Monday features a preview of UFC 246, including a taped interview with the biggest name in MMA: Conor McGregor. The former two-division UFC champion will make his first appearance in the Octagon since October 2018 in the main event against Donald Cerrone on Saturday night.

Two of McGregor's coaches are scheduled to join the Show: head coach John Kavanagh and striking coach Owen Roddy.

Also set to appear are former UFC champions Dominick Cruz, Eddie Alvarez and Anthony Pettis, and Roxanne Modafferi, who will face the unbeaten Maycee Barber on Saturday.

Watch the show:

Conor McGregor focused, ready for UFC 246

Conor McGregor sat down with Ariel Helwani for a wide-ranging interview.

Here are some of the key topics with answers edited for length and clarity. A full transcript will follow after the show.

Getting back on track

"I find I'm at my best when I must do something, and I know I must do it, and I do it. I execute it. And that's what I'm doing right now. That's what I have done. The training has been phenomenal. My coaches, my team, everyone's been in sync together. And we've had a great camp and we're very, very happy here. And obviously, it's good to be back in Las Vegas. I hadn't been in Vegas in a while. Am very excited. Very happy."

Why he still fights

"For me, it's not about money. I'm in a position where it's forever money. This is not for money for me. No amount of money will stop my hunger for this and my hunger to compete and entertain and just live my life the way I want to live it and the way I enjoy to live it. Too much money without an awareness of it in the past can be dangerous. There's no limits. There's no boundaries. You can do anything. You can go anywhere. I know what I want to do and what I enjoy doing. And this is what I enjoy doing. And so I'm going to keep doing it. Now I'm doing it full steam ahead and I'm in the best shape of my life. Mental and physical."

What he'll take away from a turbulent 2019

"A learning year, a year of figuring out myself and my situation. 2020, the year of perfect vision. I've actually got better vision than 2020. I was in the eye exam and they said I have 20-15. The last one they said 20-10, then the lady was like 2015. 2010 is like a bionic eye. So I think I've got good eyesight. Let's just say that."

His kids saved him and his career

"My heart is full with my kids. They are here with me now in Las Vegas. We have a Vegas residence, and it's great to be back in the Vegas home with the family. Dee's here, my sisters are here helping out. I am absolutely amazed and I'm very, very blessed. What a time for it to happen for me. Right on the money for me. I needed my kids to help me. And they have helped me. And I'm very, very happy and very, very proud."

Dominick Cruz: The first round is key for Donald Cerrone

Dominick Cruz has been watching a lot of film in preparation for Saturday's UFC 246 main event between Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone, for his ESPN show Unlocking Victory. He'll be breaking down each fighter's approach in great detail later in the week, but Cruz offered his vision for how Cerrone could push this fight into a more favorable direction for himself.

"Cerrone has to stay tall and he needs to make sure that he's throwing combinations, ending his combinations with a kick. The fight that I like to look back at with Cerrone -- if he shows up like this I think he'll do really well -- it's against Rick Story [in 2016].

"Rick Story was a big 170-pounder and Cerrone was coming over and he did really well in that fight. Now, Rick Story's standup is not Conor McGregor's standup, we all know that. However, it's a southpaw that's very powerful and it's more the habits that Cerrone uses in that fight, if you want to go back and watch, that I think would really work against a guy like Conor... It's long combinations -- slowing, finishing with kicks, either high or low.

"He's going to want to attack the body of Conor early. And he's going to want to attack the legs of Conor early. But more than anything, I think the key for Cerrone is to come out already having a first round of fighting in the back, so that when he shows up to that Octagon, he's in his second round already, because Conor McGregor comes out on fire in the first round and leaves almost nothing in the tank in that first round.

"Cerrone, if you look, habitually doesn't show up like that in the first... If you just watch any of [Cerrone's] fights, after the first round, when he comes out in the second round, he looks different. He looks awake. He looks like a different fighter. His punches are faster. His reactions are different. His defense is improved. Everything looks better.

"He takes a lot of damage, and he almost takes getting punched a little bit before he shows up in the second, third, fourth, fifth round. And he really usually wins those last four rounds, but that first round, rarely have I seen Cerrone come out awake. And never have I seen him come out as awake as Conor does in the first round.

"If he can make that adjustment, we'll have a very good first round, and if this fight comes out of the second round into three, four and five, I see it getting closer and closer, edging towards Cerrone with a good chance of getting this win.

Helwani Show lineup

On now: Conor McGregor discusses a wide range of topics.

2:55 p.m.: Celebrity predictions, including picks from Action Bronson, Steve-O and Mick Foley.

3 p.m.: Owen Roddy, McGregor's striking coach, discusses that aspect of his game.

3:20 p.m.: Roxanne Modafferi talks about facing up-and-coming star Maycee Barber on Saturday.

3:35 p.m.: John Kavanagh, McGregor's head coach, previews Saturday's comeback fight for McGregor.