In the much-anticipated UFC bout of the lightweights, it’s Irish aggression against Russian grappling power. The big question now of course is who will claim the
UFC title; Conor ‘The Notorious’ McGregor or Khabib Nurmagomedov, a man known by his legion of fans as ‘The Eagle’?
According to a sample of the current spread betting odds at several sports bookmakers, the burly Russian is the clear favourite… and by some margin. McGregor’s 23-month hiatus away from the muscle madness of MMA appears to be counting against him, big time.
Those who know the Irishman intimately in a professional capacity - from his coach to his more recent opponents - are not so gung-ho about a clean ‘kill’ by the predatory bird. Rather, they are predicting a McGregor KO within the first two to three rounds!
Enthusiastic mixed martial arts fans in South Africa clearly have their work cut out for them. Will it be Conor or Khabib who rises to the occasion in Las Vegas in October 2018? Before you click on the
Betway MMA betting odds, here are a few pointers that may help you pick a winner.
Conor McGregor: Well Rested or Ring Rusty?
Image Source: fushankwoon.com
Since losing the WBC Money Belt to Floyd Mayweather last year, McGregor has been licking his wounds and nursing a bruised ego. The combative southpaw was beaten by technical knockout in the 10
th round; a result that surprised many, none more so than Conor himself.
To add fuel to the fire, the former two-weight champion has frequently been in the news… but for all the wrong reasons. A nasty ringside altercation and some seriously thuggish behaviour that nearly landed him in jail has not done too much for his reputation.
Along with the Irishman’s notorious news worthiness, his time away from the ring cost him his lightweight title, the very same title he’ll be trying to reclaim when he goes toe to toe with Nurmagomedov in Vegas on October 7
th 2018.
Although some boxing pundits may believe he’s ring rusty, the time away from the physicality of MMA may just have done him the power of good. Can Conor land the lethal blow? His record of 21 wins in 24 fights with 18 KOs, coupled with his natural aggression and awesome knockout power will undoubtedly count in his favour.
Khabib Nurmagomedov: Dead Cert Champion or Pretender to the Throne?
Image Source: mmafighting.com
Nurmagomedov is the takedown king. He also boasts a clean sheet of 26 wins in 26 fights, eight by knock-out. A key factor that will sway the results in the Russian’s favour is if and when the fight goes to the ground. If that happens, it’s doubtful McGregor will be able to withstand a sustained ground attack by the younger man, who is after all in prime physical condition.
On the flip side, Nurmagomedov has a habit of keeping his head held too high, a habit that often leaves him open to getting tagged by his opponents. If he slips up like this in Las Vegas, Conor will surely grab the opportunity to unleash his lethal left hand… and the fight may well be over before it’s really begun.
Will the Russian be able to wrestle his opponent to the ground and finish him off or will McGregor’s legendary straight left have the final say? Well… that’s for you to decide!
I will share this with you; my bet is on Conor McGregor regaining the title by knockout. It’s not so much that I believe in the Irish lad, it’s simply because I’m a sucker for the underdog!
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