Conor McGregor to challenge Khabib Nurmagomedov for UFC lightweight title
The world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has been on a path to improvement since it became mainstream about 20 years ago. There have been many super athletes that have pushed the boundary of what humans can be capable of in combat. Young prospects have come and gone, but when Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov entered the scene, they clearly stood out from the rest. Having distinctive styles of their own, they have dominated their opponents left and right, letting the world know that they are not to be messed with. And now, the MMA gods have finally answered our prayers. These two warriors will be fighting for the UFC lightweight title on Oct. 6 in Las Vegas, headlining UFC 229.
Some may remember McGregor from the high-profile boxing match that he had last year against the boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, but let’s not forget how he came about in the world of fighting.
Coming from a boxing background, McGregor’s striking game is what led him to capture two different weight division titles for himself. His perfect hand-eye coordination is what allows him to measure up his upcoming punches and throw them with great accuracy towards his opponent’s temple. His wide and sharply diagonal stance, too, can be a potential factor to his success — this allows him to stay outside of his opponent’s range while putting his lead arm in proper position to throw shots at a better angle. This is why he has won 18 of his 21 wins through vicious knockouts.
While McGregor is a striking master, Nurmagomedov is a wrestling genius. A former world Sambo champion, Nurmagomedov has been wrestling ever since he was a young boy — there is actually footage of him wrestling with a grizzly bear cub when he was a kid!
Nurmagomedov’s decision to pick up MMA as his main sport has so far proven to be a very wise one. Because of his unbeatable wrestling skills, Nurmagomedov’s main strategy of taking down opponents and pounding them on the ground has been his best way of maintaining an undefeated professional record and capturing the UFC lightweight title for himself. Nurmagomedov can take down his opponents at will whenever he sees things going south in a fight, but still, he is not afraid of conducting a stand-up fight if need be, as evident in his recent fight against lightweight contender Al Iaquinta
This is going to be a classic clash-of-styles type of match, as it will be logical for the fighters to go back to their roots and do what they usually do best. McGregor might have a potential chance of knocking out Nurmagomedov if he acts fast and gets his shots in early in the fight. If Nurmagomedov’s chin can actually resist those slick shots of McGregor’s, however, it would be highly probable that Nurmagomedov takes the fight to the full distance by turning it into a full-on wrestling match.
Either way, the best thing about MMA is that the math of it doesn’t always work out — there can be sudden, unpredictable instances that steer the fight in a totally different direction.
Regardless of who wins this fight, a night filled with violence and entertainment is doubtlessly guaranteed. The wait is almost over.
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