UFC 229 - THE BIGGEST UFC PPV, The Notorious Connor Mcgregor is back, & What I think may happen

This will arguably one of the biggest pay per view events in the history of UFC. Not only will you see Ireland V Russia, but you will see two gladiators willing to put their bodies on the line for the entertainment of us. That being said I am pretty certain they're both extremely excited for this fight to happen being as both them can't stand each other. Therefore it will be far more than just a normal MMA fight.

I will be breaking down the fight and the tale of the tape, what I think could happen and what each fighter might need to potential taking the W for this fight.

Lets get right down too it.

TALE OF THE TAPE: MCGREGOR

Age: 30

Height: 5ft 8in

Weight: 155lbs

Reach: 74 inches

Leg reach: 40 inches

Record: 21-3

Significant strikes (per min): 5.82

Takedown average: 0.92

TALE OF THE TAPE: NURMAGOMEDOV

Age: 30

Height:  5ft 8in

Weight: 155lbs

Reach: 70 inches

Leg reach: 40 inches

Record: 26-0

Significant strikes (per min): 4.34

Takedown average: 5.44

For Connor what is needed for him to win, is to stay loose on his feet, step in and out of the pocket, force Khabib to fight standing the same exact way he made Eddie Elverez and Jose Aldo. I think if he manages to get khabib to finally strike I think that's when Connor could use his reach and counter attacking strikes to his advantage. 

What connor might need to do differently or could harm in the fight? - If he fights like the way he fought in the Nate Diaz (first fight) where he just went in there and swung punches and over extended on his shots, wasted unreserved energy that could cost him. Another point would be if he gets taken down he might end up spending a round or more on the ground, as Khabib isn't like Chad mendes if he gets you down he won't go for a choke them accidentally let go, he will continue to do it until your arm breaks or you pass out. 

What can Khabib do that would be needed for his win, do what he's best at, taking people down and rag dolling them. What I mean by that is he has this uncontrollable talent where he has fought some of the most toughiest guys in the sport of MMA yet the second that they get taken down they go in to a stem of panic because of how special he is on the ground. If he isn't trying to choke or submit you he's throwing bombs from any angle when you're on the ground, before you know it the ref is pulling him off and calling it a TKO victory. 

What could be a problem for him? - Of course Khabib isn't strongest with striking, yet that doesn't mean he has a weak chin, however it just means he has a speciality and he prefers to stick to it. If connor forces Khabib to stand and trade that's where it may be in favour for conor, However this is MMA and anything is possible. I mean this is a guy that has NEVER been dropped, NEVER been KOed, or NEVER been submitted. Therefore regardless what people will say if his stand up game isn't outstanding his ground game is. 

This is the perfect striker v grappler fight, I won't go into the back story for this fight unless you have been living under a rock and don't remember when Conor Mcgregor went ape shit on the UFC bus a few months back? that was because he wanted Khabib's head. We knew this fight was going to happen one day we just never imagine it would ever happen. McGregor's team-mate and close friend Artem Lobov had given an interview to a Russian television station, branding Khabib a 'coward'. 

Lobov was confronted by the Dagestani and his team in a fighter hotel in Brooklyn and McGregor caught wind of the situation. He and a number of the team from Straight Blast Gym in Dublin flew out to New York two days later. 

They stormed into the Barclays Centre, furiously searching for Khabib, finding him on a bus in the bowels of the arena along with a number of other athletes scheduled to compete on the UFC 223 card. 

That's when the now infamous bus attack took place. Khabib remained on board as the frenzy took place outside. McGregor hurled the metal dolly through the window, with shards of glass causing facial lacerations to Michael Chiesa and damaging the eyes of Ray Borg. Both men had to withdraw from their bouts with the injuries. 

McGregor fled the scene before eventually handing himself in to the authorities. The 30-year-old pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct but avoided jail after striking a deal with prosecutors. He is still being sued by Chiesa for 'negligence, assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress'.

                  

Let's talk about the weigh ins for this fight. (First it will the official weigh-ins)

Nurmagomedov hit the scales just one minute after the scheduled start of the official weigh-ins at 9:00 a.m. PT, coming in at 155 pounds on the nose.

McGregor, 30, McGregor weighed in at 10:06 a.m. and came in under the title limit at 154.5 pounds. He gave a celebratory yell and made a fist before making a quick exit.

The Weigh in FS1 Show

I personally think that because so much has been said, so many people have gotten involved and how heated it's become between these two it's utterly incredible to how explosive it's going to be. I think if Khabib gets heated and Mcgregor is able to get under his skin and potentially force Khabib to launch at connor then I believe he has the power and the ability to Knock him out.  That being said If Conor don't knock Khabib within the opening two rounds I think Khabib will slowly start to ease his way into the fight and take a split decision victory. 

(I was thinking i may be a unanimous but I felt with the Irish  crowd it may sway one judge) 

Let me know what you think I've called it right or believe I could be way off? 

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Lets briefly talk about who else will be fighting on the prelims and who will be fighting on the co-main event.

Co-Main Event

It's Tony Ferguson V Anthony Petis

What makes this such an interesting fight is that both fighters has had an incredible MMA career, both on an inpressive run, Tony Ferguson has abilty to submit you from literally any angle that is remotely possible. That being said he is recently coming back from Knee injury surgery is that going to prevent him from being mobile in the octagon?
I don't believe so, I believe he will be strong and show the world who the real champion is and then submit he's chance to fighting the winner of Khabib and Connor

This is what I can an interesting match up as it's difficult to judge. However, I am not going to go into detail with my thoughts on this way but I am going for a Reyes Victory.

Both of these fighters has unbelievable dangerous hands, Derek Lewis has the power to knock out most people who he's came in contact with. Alexander Volkov is coming from the shocking TKO he put on former Heavy weight champion Fabricio Verdum in London England. It's going to be hard fight to guess. However, I don't think a KO will happen. or a submit will happen. It also has potential to be a war, but I think this will be a tapdance judge's decision victory.

I think I speak for most men when I say this but these two women are women that doesn't look like they will be scary because of how cute and beautiful they both look. BOY was I wrong, these two are arguably up there to being the baddest women in the game right now. I think this has potential to being an incredible MMA fight.
I feel Waterson wins from submission.

(I Understand some of the predictions may be way off but just bare in mind this is my personal opinion for the top of my head without having to study footage, just going by old fights etc. )

Prelims

Sergio Petis V Jussier Formiga
Vicente Luque V Jalin Turner
Aspen Ladd V Tonya Evinger
Scott Holtzman V Alan Patrick

All action will be on BT Sports 1 (UK fans)
If you want a live commentary of what is happening FOLLOW my social media accounts and I will try to do a live video of my reaction or of whats going on during the event.

Stick around for more coming soon.

Peace you beautiful beast people! X