The wait is over as Conor McGregor (21-3) returns to the sport after 99 weeks of inactivity.
The former featherweight and lightweight champion will take on current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (26-0) in the main event of UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
McGregor’s time away from the sport has been anything but quiet. During his hiatus, he was stripped of his two belts: in September of 2016 UFC took his featherweight title, and in April of this year, he was stripped of his lightweight championship due to inactivity.
McGregor’s Hiatus
McGregor spent his time away from MMA fighting boxing legend Floyd Mayweather (in August of last year). Although he lost to Mayweather the event was a huge success as it broke pay per view records and grossed over $55 million in tickets sales.
McGregor stayed in the spotlight as he got involved in a melee at Barclays Center in Brooklyn ahead of UFC 223. On April 3, McGregor injured several people after launching a dolly at a bus carrying Khabib and other fighters. McGregor was looking to confront the Russian fighter for cornering a friend of his at a hotel earlier that week.
As a result, he faced several charges but on July 26 got off all charges after pleading no contest to a count of disorderly conduct and agreeing to perform five days of community service and attend anger management classes.
Fight Announcement
In early August his clash with Khabib was announced and now the Irishman is ready to return for what is set to be one of the greatest fights in UFC history.
Not only because of all the background drama but because it features the biggest star in the sport in McGregor against Khabib, the current UFC lightweight champion who’s managed to stay unbeaten in 26 fights.
Fight Preview
To try to handle Khabib his first loss McGregor will try to create traps and dead space all over the octagon to lead the Russian into a compromising position and then strike him with his powerful left hand to knock him out.
It will be tough for Khabib to push McGregor back when the Irishman starts to back him into the fence. Khabib is an outstanding wrestler but it’s never easy to try to take Conor down because he’s a master of setting traps up and a master at feinting.
Consequently, look for Khabib to try to stand next to McGregor and do some fighting on his feet before trying to use his grappling techniques to take him down.
Khabib could try some leg kicks to upset Conor’s timing and balance as well as disrupt his ability to plant his feet and throw off his countering ability. Problem with that approach is that Khabib’s new to the kicking game and is not likely to fight kick heavy bout against the experienced Irishman.
Therefore, Khabib’s best approach could be to watch McGregor’s footwork to try to pick up when he retreats to his back foot and then take an angle every time Conor drops back.
This would allow Khabib to get off McGregor’s center line while keeping him in his which would set Khabib for a power shot or a takedown move.
In other words, if the Russian can see through McGregor’s footwork timing and responds with his own counter footwork he could really mess up with Conor’s counter game leaving him with no option but to flee or to try to strike while turning, and that takes a lot of speed and power from his punches.
If Conor can’t dominate the contest with his counter strike skills he might start to get desperate and step in more aggressively giving Khabib takedown opportunities on much better terms.
Prediction:
-Khabib has the wrestling and grappling advantage, but McGregor will not be an easy target to take down.
– Khabib’s shown a tendency to get hit a lot in some of his fights and this is bad against a boxer and striker as skilled as McGregor, who could end the fight with one move.
-Expect Khabib to get frustrated due to Conor’s anti-takedown skills.
-Khabib will not withstand Conor’s pressure of constantly pushing forward.
-Khabib will make mistakes that will leave him open and vulnerable and once this happens McGregor will use his exceptional striking and range control to take him down.
