The much anticipated bout between former featherweight and lightweight champion ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor and current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is rumoured to be materialized for UFC 230 at the historic Madison Square Garden, New York in November.
It’s classic striker vs. grappler match up however McGregor is just a different level of striker and Nurmagomedov being a grappler of a different league. McGregor with is unorthodox, calm and loose style of striking,especially his big left hand has got the better of almost all his opponents. Nurmagomedov on the other hand with his Sambo background, has mauled, even NCAA wrestlers.
While standing and banging can be an entertaining option and can also make a statement, Nurmagomedov will choose to stick to his game plan only.
“It’s impossible [for Conor McGregor to not be taken down by me], brother. No really, I think it’s impossible. If I try to take him down one time and he defends very good, I’m going to try to do this 100 [more] times. What he gonna do?
He don’t have conditioning, he don’t have wrestling, he don’t have grappling, you know? When he tired he don’t have heart. What happen? He only have very good left hand. I agree with this. He have a very good left hand. But what he gonna do?
I’m going to cut this angle and try to take him down 100 time…and it’s gonna be different fight. People think, okay, if Khabib gonna fight like I fight vs Iaquinta then okay he can beat me but you have to watch all my fights. All my 10 [UFC] fights, all difference. When I fight with [Edson] Barboza, [Rafael] Dos Anjos, Michael Johnson, all fights is different, you know. And we will see.”
Read also:
UFC: John Kavanagh assures that Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor will happen in 2018