UFC 229: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor is here – and it’s personal

LAS VEGAS — Many a rivalry have been settled in the Octagon.

The most bitter combatants, the angriest opponents, the top-notch trash talkers – whether by handshake, fist bump or hug, nearly every fight has ended in a mutual show of respect.

Don’t count on that Saturday night in what many are calling the biggest fight in the history of the UFC.

Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Irish sensation Conor McGregor already had the sports world buzzing in anticipation of their main-event fight at UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena.

The UFC has credentialed some 200 members of the media, and UFC president Dana White says the pay-per-view is trending toward 2 million buys.

It has become, however, more than an incredible fight between polar opposites.

After the press conferences and war of words the past two weeks, this goes beyond a professional standoff. This has bloomed into something dark and deeply visceral for both men.

“Honestly, this is for me more than just defend my title. For me it’s more than just fight for the title, for me it’s personal,” Nurmagomedov (26-0) said. “Of course, this is the biggest fight in UFC history. It’s going to break record numbers, we already talked about this. For me it’s personal.”

Said McGregor (21-3): “There will never be peace here. I always said you should aim for peace, but if you can’t aim for peace, aim between the eyes. And that’s it. I’m going to aim right between that man’s eyes and this is never over. Never, ever, ever over!”

While they agree upon that, the similarities pretty much end there.

Nurmagomedov, 30, hails from Dagestan, Russia, but trains at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose with the likes of UFC double-champion Daniel Cormier, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold.

He is a reflective man of few words and a deep Muslim faith. He lets his actions speak for him. They do so violently and relentlessly, with his world-class Sambo skills and ruthless pressure too much for his opponents to date.

“The Eagle” has finished 16 of his 26 opponents, including 12 of his past 17. He has never lost a round.

He is known to take opponents down by – or, even scarier, drags them over to – where White is sitting cage-side in order to ask him about his performance or how he should finish the fight.

McGregor’s most recent losses are enough proof for Nurmagomedov that his brawling and mauling style will be too much for him. McGregor was overwhelmed by Nate Diaz and tapped out in the second round of their catchweight fight in 2016 for his only UFC loss. And he eventually succumbed by TKO in the 10th round against Floyd Mayweather last year in their mega-money boxing clash.

Nurmagomedov isn’t sure how their five-round, 155-pound fight will end, only that he will be triumphant.

“Maybe a decision. Maybe I’m going to finish him. But all the time when he tired, he give up. This is all the time,” he said. “Like before fights, he talk. Like, ‘I’m ready for this! I’m ready for this!’ when he fight with Diaz, when he fight Mayweather. But when he tired, he give up all the time.”

McGregor, 30, has been here before. He is the biggest star in combat sports, accustomed to fighting under the brightest lights and with the most passionate fans.

“The Notorious” has never met a microphone he didn’t like nor an opponent he couldn’t verbally flambé or physically demolish.

“It’s another day. Setting the bar high and knocking it out of the park,” the former two-division champion said. “I plan on knocking that man’s nose straight into the nosebleeds. That’s what’s gonna happen on Saturday night.”

Due to his big-time boxing match with Mayweather, McGregor hasn’t fought in the Octagon in nearly two years, when he knocked out Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title. Much like his featherweight title, which he won nearly three years ago with a 14-second, one-punch face-plant of 145-pound king Jose Aldo, the lightweight belt was taken from McGregor due to his inactivity.

Ring rust might not matter when you have the most precise and devastating left hand in the history of the sport. With 18 knockouts, he has an 86 percent knockout rate and 13 first-round finishes.

The major concern is whether he can handle Nurmagomedov’s physicality and brutality.

“I’ve been grappling and wrestling much heavier men this whole camp – 200-pounders. Even only (Wednesday), 200-pounders, 25 minutes straight,” McGregor said. “I have cut no corners here. I am ready for all outcomes. I feel once I hit him, he’s going to turn weak. I expect panic in him early, but we have prepared for every outcome.”

One key to the fight might be who changes his style. Both are known for aggressively coming forward – Nurmagomedov to attack you down to the mat, McGregor to crack you across the jaw. Should one of them begin backing up, it could be a sign for a long – or quick – night in the cage.

UFC 229

Main event: Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (26-0) vs. No. 1 Conor McGregor (21-3)

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

TV: PPV

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