Finally, it is happening. The biggest bout in MMA history, Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor, will take place at the UFC 229 event in Las Vegas…
After five months of anticipation, the dream fight between Khabib and Conor has been set for the UFC Lightweight Championship. To be honest, it was only a matter of time after McGregor’s antics at UFC 223 – with the incident taking the rivalry to a whole new level. The duo absolutely despise each other, and it gives Conor the opportunity to make his comeback in the UFC after an absence of almost two years.
In that time, Khabib Nurmagomedov has become the competition’s top man and the champion of the UFC Lightweight Division, with his record of 26-0 speaking for itself. However, he hasn’t faced anyone of McGregor’s stature during his career. Trash-talking and build-up aside, there is no doubt it will be a fight for the ages.
🇷🇺 @TeamKhabib vs
🇮🇪 @TheNotoriousMMA👊 #UFC229
📅 Saturday 6th October
🏆 @UFC Lightweight Championship
🏟 @TMobileArena – Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/w0aLzd3H5d
— SPORF (@Sporf) August 3, 2018
The two guys stepping in the octagon at the UFC 229 will have contrasting personalities. Conor McGregor, as most of us know, is an outspoken and flashy type of guy. He winds his opponents up outside the ring with his trash-talking, and to be fair, he is the best at it. He did it in the build-up to his fight with Jose Aldo – a fight he won in only 21 seconds. One can say that the fight had already been won outside the octagon, as Conor got under Aldo’s skin.
On the other hand, Khabib Nurmagomedov possesses a calm nature, and doesn’t resort to show-boating. He was raised in Dagestan in Russia, during a time of prevalent war. Growing up in such a tough atmosphere was coupled with brutal training regimes right through his youth. As a result, Khabib is a man of very few words but provides plenty of action. Robustness was practically embroidered in him from a very young age by his father.
OFFICIAL: Conor McGregor will fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC lightweight title on October 6th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/0fGXrKsMtb
— bet365 (@bet365) August 3, 2018
The fight between Nurmagomedov and McGregor will also prove to be a clash of two distinct fighting styles. Conor on his feet is probably the best fighter in the UFC, and his left hand can knock anybody out. Khabib can be vulnerable when fighting against a quick opponent given his recklessness while defending punches and the number of shots he takes in the first two rounds. If that happens in the fight against McGregor, he will not get past the first round.
When it comes to fighting on the mat and take-downs, Nurmagomedov is arguably the best at it. He is a very good wrestler and grows into his fights. If he can take the fight to the ground, he can beat anyone. Coming up against McGregor, he will look to keep the Irishman down for as long as possible and halt his movement.
Prediction:
In a fight so ridiculously hard to predict, a case can be made for the both fighters. Conor “The Notorious” McGregor will take his regular approach, which has brought him success through the years. He will talk trash and try to get inside Khabib’s head, while Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov will enter the octagon to face the biggest challenge of his career.
The key for the Russian is to ensure that he is not be fazed by the occasion and by McGregor’s words. If his mind is disrupted, he will be at a massive disadvantage when entering the octagon. However, that does not mean Khabib is the underdog in this fight. Him being the UFC Lightweight Champion while still undefeated is reason enough to back him.
All that can be said of this encounter is that it will be epic, and the factors mentioned above justify this clash at UFC 229 being labelled the biggest fight in MMA history.