UFC 229 Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor: Fight Card, Half-Assed Musings + Odds

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Art by BossLogic

October 6, 2018

T-Mobile Arena

Las Vegas, Nevada

Main Card on Pay-Per-View (9pm/CT):

Lightweight Champion #1 Khabib Nurmagomedov (26-0) -175 vs. Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor (21-3) +165

"The Eagle" has landed on the 155 division as Nurmagomedov won 10 bouts in the promotion to capture the gold. Khabib's team is funded by Ziyavudin Magomedov (Summa Group) who has been arrested on racketeering and embezzlement. "Nurmy" is also associated with warlord and human monster Ramzan Kadyrov as well as being managed by shit stain Ali Abdelaziz who should be forcefully removed from the sport. Also the champ, uploaded himself, video of his crony humiliating homeless people. So, the guy doesn't exactly surround himself with good people. 

We last saw Conor in MMA action defeating Eddie Alvarez back in 2016. Then McGregor did whatever the hell that was when he met Floyd "Domestic Abuser" Mayweather on TV, and finally fought a bus. Conor's bestie Artem Lobov mouthed off online about Khabib, and the Russian bullied the Russian Irishman causing Mac to come a flyin' in and attack the shuttle and all that shit, bla, bla, bla. It's been a time. The aptly nicknamed "Notorious" has been busy making babies and Irish whiskey but it is finally time for the "King" to return to the kingdom. 

What a clusterfuck. Neither man can seem to act like a professional, or a decent human being for that matter, but we are here to anoint the true UFC Lightweight Champion. Of course, Tony Ferguson has never lost his title either, but Jesus, at some point we have to get to the actual fight.

Anyfuckingwho, these two men, for all their numerous faults, are the cream of the crop, the best of the best, and this is a dream bout where the true king of 155 will be crowned. 

Nurmagomedov wants to use his brilliant wrestling to ground Conor, taking away his range striking, and wear him down testing Mac's questionable gas tank. Khabib has struggled with the cardio in the past as well, but as he showed against Al Iaquinta, he can do 25 with no problems now, and with the numerous injuries seemingly a thing of the past, he's peaking. "The Eagle's" striking didn't look awful last out, but nothing that special and Khabib allows himself to get hit a bit too often standing.

"Mystic Mac" wants to break you mentally long before the fight begins, then stay at range before unleashing hell in the form of a shockingly fast and potent left hand. It's not just he power, but the timing and quick reflexes that make Conor so effective. However, McGregor has shown weakness off his back seemingly unsure of what to do if he cannot escape. As mentioned, "Notorious" has shown endurance issues against Chad Mendes, Nate Diaz, and Floyd Mightycunt. It is a great worry when to be gasping for air while Nurmagomedov is on top of you, talking shit, and mauling you.

Here's da ting, we're not expecting Conor's timing to be as perfect as in the past for multiple reasons. It's not just the long layoff, but the awkward offense coming back his way. Normally it's the Irishman's style that dictates the festivities, but here, it will be the Russian bringing his strange striking really just to set up the takedown and get the savage going. McGregor has a quick shot to put Nurmagomedov away early, but even if rocked, Khabib will grab hold and get the better positions on the ground. Mac runs out of steam and "Nurmy" puts him through a long hard winter.

WINNER-Khabib Nurmagomedov by Rd.3 TKO 

Lightweight Champion #2 Tony Ferguson (25-3) -335 vs. #10 Anthony Pettis (21-7) +305

Toot, toot, cause MMAFO wishes to remind you, we told you "El Cucuy" would be a champion back in 2011! After winning 10 fights in a row, including capturing the 155 crown, Ferguson faced his greatest threat, a TV cable on the ground, which dropped him and tore a ligament in his knee. For his efforts, he was stripped of the title and put back in the que. That's gotta sting. Now, Tony has, "made rehab his bitch," and the corny indoor sunglasses wearing warrior has returned. "Fergie" is ultra well rounded and can do it all whether striking with his long limbs, twisting you into a mess grappling, or creating some crazy shit on the fly for an exciting highlight. Dude is cocky, douchey, and a bad ass in his prime.

"Showtime" is back! Wait, Featherweight didn't work out. Back up to 155. Shit that didn't work. Pettis defeats Michael Chiesa. "Showtime" is back! What we're saying here, is we have heard this tune time and time again. 3-4 since losing the 155 title, "Pretty Tony" claims to have found his mojo once again returning to his go-for-broke attack style but we remain skeptical. The Roufusport fighter is a creative striker and sneaky submissioner, but he has lapses of judgment in the cage, and everyone already knows, you put Pettis on his back and you win.

Tony will need the luck of a "Showtime Kick" to compete here. Ferguson is better almost everywhere and more durable. It should be fun to see a motivated and frustrated "El Cucuy" just destroy Pettis.

WINNER-Tony Ferguson by Rd.2 Submission

#10 Ovince Saint Preux (22-11) +210 vs. Dominick Reyes (9-0) -230

OSP is one of the stranger cats in the game. He wins, he loses, he's all over the damn map looking like a contender one moment, and a future Bellator combatant the next.

"The Devastator" is running game these days going 3-0 in the UFC with all being finished in the very 1st round. Reyes has only met the judges a single time (in 2015) but with such a small body of work in the cage, we're still unsure as to what all this guy has to offer.

It's an OSP fight so seeing a Von Flue Choke or something equally strange happening is a given. This feels like the bad booking the UFC is becoming known for. Management has consistently fed up and coming prospects for Saint Preux to push back down the ladder and it'll prolly be the same here. Somebody needs to shake up 205s though.

Upset Pick WINNER-Ovince Saint Preux by Decision?

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#3 Derrick Lewis (20-5,1) +150 vs. #5 Alexander Volkov (29-6) -160

Derrick is promising redemption, at least for the 1st round. Lewis has promised to release the "Black Beast" for the opening gong and dash. 

Do people even realize the affable big man has gone 7-1 since '16 and is deserving of a title shot? Be real. The guys record is pretty solid and a poor performance or not against Francis Ngannou, Lewis got the "W." He's just such an entertaining comical fella, people forget how effective he is. There has been the fair criticism that Derrick doesn't take training very seriously, but he has made some new adjustments and lost weight for this outing.

Volkov has looked every bit the contender winning his last 5 since exiting Bellator and the 6'7" Russian even toppled convicted cheater and former champ Fabricio Werdum (who is suspended for 2 years btw).

IF, this gets out of the opening 5, Volkov wins. He can remain at a comfortable distance and pick apart Lewis with vastly superior endurance. But ya gotta escape the first 5. MMAFO doesn't see it happening as the brute clobbers Alex early and puts him away before he knows what has occurred.

Upset Pick WINNER-Derrick Lewis by Rd.1 KO

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#9 Felice Herrig (14-7) -115 vs. Michelle Waterson (15-6) +105

Jesus Christ Felice is hateable. The female Jon Jones. The cunt pretends to be concerned with the validity of others actions, when she has built her career upon on racy pictures of which we are supposed to ignore her steroid jaw, and pretend like her body isn't manufactured in a lab. MMAFO had to say what we are all thinking. Herrig is a decent fighter. She's tough and never without options, she's just a gross person.

"The Karate Hottie" is the opposite of Herrig. Michelle is a sweetheart whose sincerity is never in doubt, and an inspiration to women everywhere. 

Herrig should win this unfortunately. Neither do a whole lot of dangerous striking and we lean toward Felice's grappling, and more meaningful offense to win on points.

WINNER-Felice Herrig by Decision

Prelims (8 p.m. ET on FS1):

Sean O’Malley versus Jose Quinonez is Canceled!

Sean was popped by USADA and has been pulled from the contest. The PED epidemic strikes again.

#4 Sergio Pettis (17-3) -150 vs. #7 Jussia da Silva (21-5) +140

WINNER-Sergio Pettis by Decision

Vicente Luque (13-6-1) -825 vs. Jalin Turner (6-3) +650

WINNER-Vicente Luque by Rd.1 TKO

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Aspen knows MMAFO loves dogs!

#7 Tonya Evinger (19-6,1) +155 vs. #9 Aspen Ladd (6-0) -165

Upset Pick WINNER-Tonya Evinger by Decision

Scott Holtzman (11-2) +240 vs. Alan Patrick Alves (15-1) -260

WINNER-Alan Alves by Decision

Prelims on UFC Fight Pass (7pm/CT):

Lina Länsberg (8-3) +190 vs. Yana Kunitskaya (10-4-0,1) -210

WINNER-Yana Kunitskaya by Decision

Gray Maynard (14-7-1,1) +215 vs. Nik Lentz (30-9-2,1) -235

WINNER-Nik Lentz by Decision

Ryan LaFlare (13-2) -130 vs. Tony Martin (12-4) +120

WINNER-Ryan LaFlare by Decision

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