UFC’s Conor McGregor shoots to make Madison Square Garden his new favorite home

Conor McGregor closed his public workout on the hardwood floor of Madison Square Garden and gave the crowd the bold pronouncements they came for.

Before speaking, he stepped behind a workout mat set up near the free-throw circle, and someone handed him a basketball.

He lined up for a free throw, sent up the shot, got a couple fortunate bounces and sank the basket.

An omen?

“It means the world to me to fight here,” McGregor said as the UFC makes its New York debut following legislation this year that legalized the sport in the state.

“This is why I was pushing to fight here. I couldn’t miss this event. I built this event.”

McGregor (20-3), the UFC’s featherweight champion, will attempt to become the first fighter in the organization to wear two belts simultaneously when he meets Philadelphia’s lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez (28-4) in the pay-per-view main event of UFC 205.

McGregor earned a record $3 million guaranteed purse in his August victory over welterweight Nate Diaz, and he’s expected to top that Saturday.

“Saturday night, I become immortal. I am immortalized in this,” McGregor said. “I want the second belt. It has never been done before. It’s my life’s work. My opponents can’t out-work me.”

When asked to deliver one of his eerily accurate predictions? “One-round KO,” McGregor said.