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Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (26-0, 8 KOs, 8 SUBs) is on a collision course with Irish superstar Conor McGregor (21-3, 18 KOs, 1 SUB). The two are rumored to be headlining UFC 229 on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card airs live on pay-per-view starting 10 pm ET.
One way or another, the biggest fight in UFC should happen before the year is over. Conor McGregor, the biggest name in the promotion’s history, is rumored to be returning to the cage to meet current lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
There are so many hype angles in this matchup. Let’s start with the fact that these two hate each other. This is a grudge match that’s seized the attention of the sports world. Footage of McGregor throwing a metal dolly through the window of Khabib’s bus was plastered all over ESPN. The Russian was largely unfazed, and continued his needling of the superstar.
McGregor is also the lineal lightweight champion. He never lost the belt - it was stripped from him after his failure to defend it. After a stint with Tony Ferguson as the interim champion, Nurmagomedov was awarded the undisputed title after bizarre circumstances led to a matchup against Al Iaquinta. It’s complicated, we know. But the result is Khabib is the lightweight champ facing a fighter who never actually lost it inside the cage.
Fightwise, it just doesn’t get any more compelling. This is a classic striker vs. wrestler matchup, only both guys do it on incomparable levels. Frankly, we’ve never seen a wrestler as scary as Khabib. The Russian puts his opponents through the meatgrinder with the cold efficiency of a Terminator. McGregor’s left hand is basically a nuclear weapon, and his fluid body movement is poetry in motion.
With a fight this big, it’s only natural that the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu already have betting lines up. It should come as no surprise that Khabib is the favorite here.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Conor McGregor +150
Khabib Nurmagomedov -180
Fight goes/doesn’t go to decision: +270 / -360
Striking Stats
Significant strikes landed per minute: Nurmagomedov 4.34 / McGregor 5.82
Accuracy: Nurmagomedov 48% / McGregor 47%
Significant strikes absorbed per minute: Nurmagomedov 1.55 / McGregor 4.55
Defense: Nurmagomedov 70% / McGregor 57%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Nurmagomedov 4.34 / McGregor 0.92
Takedown accuracy: Nurmagomedov 44% / McGregor 62%
Takedown defense: Nurmagomedov 84% / McGregor 73%
Submission average: Nurmagomedov 0.6 / McGregor 9
Bet on Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov Odds
MMA is a sport that generally favors wrestlers, and that carries over into the sportsbooks. When a guy can dictate where the fight goes and has the skillset to keep it where he wants, he tends to be a consistent winner. Nurmagomedov is so good at this that he’s 26-0, with notable wins over fighters like Edson Barboza, Michael Johnson and Rafael dos Anjos.
We can’t emphasize enough how deadly Nurmagomedov is on the ground. Against Johnson, he would pin the poor man to the mat, trap one of his arms with his legs and get totally unobstructed shots at the face. At times, it looked like a big brother beating up a helpless older brother. He pretty much did the same thing against Edson Barboza, and then outboxed a boxer in Al Iaquinta just to style a bit.
Then again, McGregor’s done his fair share of making great fighters look like amateurs. He literally toyed with Eddie Alvarez - one of the best lightweights in the world - putting his hands behind his back and dropping a famously iron-chinned man at will. He also flatlined Aldo in 13 seconds with the first punch he took. It’s like this guy is fighting in the Matrix.
Now, they’re getting in a cage together. And it’s going to be the biggest damn fight ever. The drama, the intrigue and the bright lights of Las Vegas. The only thing that could make it better is winning some money on top. Make sure to check back in for updates on line movements and of course, our expert picks betting picks during fight week.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today. UFC 229 takes place on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card airs live on pay-per-view starting 10 pm ET.
