Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor will make another walk to the Octagon tomorrow night (Sat., Jan. 18, 2020) at UFC 246 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, when he meets Donald Cerrone in the main event of the evening.
Having not fought since a submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov back in 2018, McGregor desperately needs a win in his return to action. The oddsmakers are putting “Notorious” ahead of Cerrone for their welterweight clash, but does McGregor have the advantage entering this weekend’s massive PPV event?
While many believe McGregor can stiffen Cerrone with early pressure and heavy left hands, others are picking “Cowboy” to outlast the Irishman and score the upset victory in front of millions of fans. In order to pull of the biggest win of his storied MMA career Cerrone must keep McGregor guessing from the opening bell, which is exactly how former UFC champion and all-around MMA legend Chuck Liddell describes it.
“I think if ‘Cowboy’ can come out and convince him he’s going to take him down, get after him, and get him guessing whether or not they’re going to go up or down, I think ‘Cowboy’ can do it,” Liddell told TMZ Sports (shown above).
“If he lets Conor get comfortable out there and firing at will he might run into trouble.”
When asked who Liddell wants to win the McGregor vs. Cerrone matchup “Iceman” did not mince his words.
“He’s always going to be tough. He’s always going to be a tough striker,” Liddel said of McGregor. “But people have that question whether or not he’s been struggling with some issues lately. Is he really back? As strong as he was?
“I’m a big fan of ‘Cowboy.’ I’m hoping he comes out with the win.”
This is a massive fight for both men. A win over Cerrone with help McGregor regain some much-needed momentum for his 2020 comeback campaign as he aims to take out the likes of Khabib, Jorge Masvidal, Tony Ferguson, Kamaru Usman, and Justin Gaethje. If “Cowboy” were to defeat McGregor it would help the veteran fighter close in on another, and potentially final, UFC title shot.
What say you, Maniacs? Do you agree with Liddell’s assessment?
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 246 fight card this weekend RIGHT HERE, starting with the Fight Pass/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.