Poll of the Day > Predictions for Conor and Khabib

(+) Yeah! (+)

This weekend UFC 229 will feature a main event title fight for the lightweight title between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov(c). This will be the long awaited return to the octogan for legendary trash talker and former two division champ, The Notorious Conor McGregor, after a two year hiatus from mixed martial arts.

Khabib has the title after a series of dubious events surrounding the UFC 223 pay per view which occurred in April. Khabib was going to fight interim title holder, Tony Ferguson. Ferguson tore ligaments in his knee after tripping over a cable after a tv interview. Then Max Holloway was scheduled, but couldnt drop the weight safely. Eventually, Khabib would face the 9th ranked lightweight in Al Ianquinta to become the official and only title holder in the light weight division.

Khabib has struggled with both injury and weight cut problems in the past. This has led Conor to call him a pull out merchant. Plus many big UFC fights have been shelved this year when a fighter withdraws.

So, Im pumped. I know PotD isnt huge on combat sports, but maybe a few people will be interested in discussing.
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Id also talk the other fights too. Glad Tony is back in the cage. Guy is a monster.
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I'm a conor fan but I'm going with khabib winning by submission on this one. His ground game is good and conor's is bad

OhhhJa posted...

I'm a conor fan but I'm going with khabib winning by submission on this one. His ground game is good and conor's is bad

Yeah, if Conor gets into a wrestling match, it probably wont be a great outcome for him. However, Khabib did try to stand and fight in his last fight. Also, because of Conors unorthodox transitions and combos, Khabib has to be careful on the take down attempts or the Eagle might end the night getting a tan from those ring lights.
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I'm rooting for my Muslim brother winning!
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JanwayDaahl posted...

I'm rooting for my Muslim brother winning!

So you probably dont want a glass of proper 12 either.
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kangolcone posted...

JanwayDaahl posted...

I'm rooting for my Muslim brother winning!

So you probably dont want a glass of proper 12 either.

There holding out for Man Love thursday
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2 people in the Khabib screws up the fight prior.

Im super worried that is what will happen. Under 70 hours now until weigh in.
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24 hours until weigh in. They both look good in the embedded videos. Nobody looking heavy. Nobody looking gaunt. I am so hopeful, but wont believe it until they are in the cage.
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Whoever has longer legs shall be the victor
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Khabib should be the rightful favorite. Conor has shown cardio issues and khabib willing takes fights I to deeper waters with his wrestle and smesh.

conor's best course of action is to land that left on Khabib, which is more Than open for him. Khabib has been known to eat shots rushing in. I think we need to see how well conor's power translates to this higher weight class. He was fighting and dropping much smaller guys than khabib and khabib has a more than adequate chin.
Conor also has excellent distance management but khabib has some of the best wrestling in mma. Most fights in the UFC end on the ground and if conor doesn't put khabib away quickly or manage distance to stop from getting taken down I don't see how he can win, honestly.
I think we'll have an idea after khabib takes the first real shot from conor and how he reacts.

That Being said I am affiliated with an SBG so everyone around me thinks conor is just going to walk through him, which I think is insane.

Khabib actually takes very few punches. He has the lowest number of significant strikes taken per minute in his division.
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kangolcone posted...

Khabib actually takes very few punches. He has the lowest number of significant strikes taken per minute in his division.

Because of his take down skills. That number is misleading even if true. He almost always gets tagged when he comes in. The problem with that is conor has been making that a point and using it to win fights.
I don't believe for a second that khabib is getting inside conor's range without taking a left.

Nurmagomedov defends 70.1 percent of all opponent significant strike attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the third highest rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Desmond Green (71.5 percent) and John Makdessi (71.4 percent).

And

Nurmagomedov absorbs just 1.60 significant strikes per minute in UFC lightweight competition, the second-best rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Islam Makhachev (0.82).

Im actually not disagreeing that he might take a shot or two coming in.

I just dont think its fair to say he eats shots. Khabib takes few and defends well.

Im just looking forward to a good fight. Really hoping they both make weight tomorrow.
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I guess I did say in the division when technically hes second.
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kangolcone posted...

Nurmagomedov defends 70.1 percent of all opponent significant strike attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the third highest rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Desmond Green (71.5 percent) and John Makdessi (71.4 percent).

And

Nurmagomedov absorbs just 1.60 significant strikes per minute in UFC lightweight competition, the second-best rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Islam Makhachev (0.82).

Im actually not disagreeing that he might take a shot or two coming in.

I just dont think its fair to say he eats shots. Khabib takes few and defends well.

Im just looking forward to a good fight. Really hoping they both make weight tomorrow.

You're missing my point. He takes those shots when he is coming in for takedowns. Conor's best game that he wins most of his fights with is that left hand when people come into range.
When I said misleading I meant khabib not taking punches is only true because he takes the fight to the ground very quickly, when he is standing up he's striking defense is below average (hence misleading).

This fight is the classic style makes the fight. Conor's stand up is the counter to khabib's ground game, but if his power doesn't translate as well to the higher weight class and khabib takes him down it'll be a long night for conor because of his cardio issues and his weaker (not weak mind you, he is a brown belt and his coach is no joke on the ground) grappling.