True; but I doubt Conor will do it due to his friendships with people in the SBG camp, his general hubris, and his need to feel like a big fish in a small pond. It all hinges on how hungry he is and how willing he is to continue, really.
Yes, Conor was rusty, and two years out really did show at times; but I personally believe it was more down to Khabib being truly excellent than Conor being truly terrible. At least Conor McGregor won a round against Khabib 'Let's talk now' Nurmagomedov, which is more than most of Khabib's opponents manage.
I'm not really into UFC, not really my thing, much prefer boxing. But I do watch the McGregor fights as I'm dying to see him lose. I think he goes too far with his trash talking and just becomes annoying. He's surely overrated though isn't he? Aldo jumped in recklessly and got caught with a lucky punch. He lost to Diaz, then in the rematch he ran for the 2nd half of the fight and still got the decision. If he'd engaged Diaz he probably would have lost again as he was totally gassed after 3. Then gets completely dominated by Khabib, admittedly after 2 years off. But even if he was active, would it had made much of a difference? He was totally outclassed. Seems he's just got a hammer of a left hand, but take that away and he's very, very average. He has got some good wins like Mendes etc and I'm not saying he's rubbish at all. But surely comes into the overrated category?
He won the third on the consensus, based on workrate and the handful of good shots he landed -- plus Khabib kept it standing up and didn't really attempt any takedowns that I can recall in that round. All three judges gave Conor the third on this basis. https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/im...gomedov-scorecard-1542199.jpg?r=1538900676495
Conor was superb at 145 and had a great run without question however he has never really proven, unlike someone like Tony Ferguson, that he is an elite ufc 155 lber. Conor is awful on the ground and there are MANY ufc lightweights who imo would have also beaten Conor. Conor was a great Featherweight BUT has always been massively overrated at 155.
I'd still back him to beat every other LW except khabib, people questioning his power have to remember he'd been beaten to a pulp by the time khabib decided to trade with him. Tony ferguson is a good fighter but is far too easy to hit for an elite striker like conor, petis had him badly hurt so imagine what conor would do to him.
Where was this elite striking on the weekend? Ferguson has an unlimited engine and as soon as McGregor gasses after the first round like he always does he's toast. The guy just isn't a fighter anymore and prefers to be a celebrity.
Agree Tony would be bad news for Conor. The thing with Tony is that although he can be wobbled in fights he always fights through it. His gas tank and heart is just not human. Conor would have to land flush and actually have Tony unconscious from the shot to win. Imo Tony beats him easy.
You're right he looked poor but khabib is just an unbelievable grappler that is a nightmare for wrestlers never mind for a guy with a crap wrestling game like conor. Maybe he's finished but khabib will do that to any other LW you can name.
Not sure what other people saw...But although I wanted McGregor I didn’t think he would win. I still think he is/was great? Not sure how his showing was embarrassing? Unless you just like to bash guys you don’t like who lose. Even at his best I think he comes up short...but he fights perhaps the best P4p guy in the business on a 2 year layoff without a tuneup...in the first he showed good defense against Khabib even though he clearly lost the round...got dominated (and embarrassed by the KD I suppose) in round 2...made a good showing in round 3 becoming the first person to officially take a round from Khabib...and was worn down and beaten in the 4th. I don’t like Khabib’s style (I am a boxing guy), but the dude is a monster. I see Connor taking the biggest challenge out there and coming up short...pretty admirable to me but I am not an mma guy and have immense respect for all top flight warriors in boxing/mma willing to risk health and life to fight at a top level. Oh well
True, in a way. He has had more fights back to back in past 2 years outside of the octagon than inside one. 1.He fought a mafia member. 2.He fought the ref at an Ireland MMA match that he didn't like. 3.He got in a tussle with Cody Garbrant. 4. He tried to fight Tyron Woodley backstage. 5.He fought a bus. The man was exhausted from all that fighting he was doing that he didn't have the energy to fight Khabib.
If Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson ever fight, I personally think Tony would utterly devour Conor on the ground if he can survive the first round, avoid and nullify the big left hand and get the fight to the mat.
