Tag: Preview/Prediction

As the superfight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather creeps closer and closer, the last bit of drama between the two is set to take place on the scales. 

The UFC champion and boxing superstar will weigh in to make the bout official on Friday night before the festivities on Saturday. 

The weigh-in’s represent the last part of the hype surrounding the fight. It’s one last chance for the two to generate some more buzz (if that’s possible) and maybe rope in a few more pay-per-view buys (as if they need the extra). 

Here’s all the info you need to check out the pre-fight ceremony and the latest odds for each of the fights on the main card. 

Weigh-in info

Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

Tickets: Tickets available at ticketmaster.com

          

Fight card schedule, odds (courtesy of OddsShark)

Floyd Mayweather (-400, bet $400 to win $100) vs. Conor McGregor (+300) Super welterweight

Badou Jack (-450) Nathan Cleverly (+325), light heavyweight

Gervonta Davis (-3500) Francisco Fonseca (+1700), junior lightweight

Andrew Tabiti (-275) vs. Steve Cunningham (+200), cruiserweight

           

The weigh-in may be a bit more than ceremonial hype if Floyd Mayweather has the inside scoop on the McGregor camp. Just a few days ahead of the weigh-in, Money expressed doubt that the UFC star is going to be able to make the 154-pound limit for the fight. 

“I don’t think he’s gonna make the weight,” Mayweather said in an interview with FightHype.com. “Even if he does make the weight, that’s even better, but if he doesn’t make the weight, we’re still gonna fight. But it’s gonna be a heavy fine. Give me that money.”

The veracity of Mayweather’s concern might be questionable. McGregor has routinely fought at the 155-pound limit in MMA and was the titleholder in the 145-pound weight class. It isn’t as though this will be his first trip down to 154 pounds. 

In MMA it isn’t uncommon to lose 10 pounds in the days before the fight. With no issues on the scale for McGregor before, there’s little reason to believe that he won’t be able to make the weight on Friday night. 

Still, the fact that McGregor appears to be on his MMA weight cut schedule goes against what his nutritionist George Lockhart said leading into the fight. 

“For an MMA fighter to reload, they’ll gain 15, 18 pounds, which gives them that advantage (on fight night),” Lockhart said, per Abbey Subhan and Chamatkar Sandhu of MMA Junkie. “Boxing, I want him actually walking in close to weight the week of the fight. Walking in, weighing in and maybe gaining a couple [of] pounds after that.”

McGregor‘s size and power are some of the advantages that have been touted as reasons that the MMA fighter could shock Mayweather. While Money has mostly made his career at weights under 147 pounds, McGregor has proved to be an effective fighter anywhere from 145-170 pounds. 

Lockhart‘s idea of having McGregor focus on being lighter and quicker is well taken, though. Come Saturday night, he’s going to see a level of hand speed and footwork that he doesn’t see in the MMA world. 

McGregor does have size on Mayweather, but Abel Sanchez who trains boxing superstar Gennady Golovkin doesn’t believe power is his best friend in this matchup. 

“He has to make Floyd uncomfortable, and the only way he can make Floyd uncomfortable is to throw shots. He’s a bigger guy than Floyd, but if he’s waiting to land one on the chin, it may be all night,” Sanchez said, per UFC.com. “So he needs to hit him anywhere. Just piss him off and hopefully, while you’re moving your hands, he makes a mistake and you catch him.”

McGregor is getting credit for having power. His chances are predicated on his ability to knock fighters out, but the Irishman doesn’t necessarily have the raw power to connect. His power comes from great positioning and timing. 

Neither of those things are easy to achieve against Maweather. Money has had some struggles with southpaws so there is a chance that McGregor is able to catch him in a mistake, but that outcome isn’t likely.

It’s much more likely that Mayweather is able to pick apart the Notorious over the course of a 12-round fight. If there’s someone who is going to be frustrated Saturday night it’s going to be the man making his professional boxing debut against a man who is headed toward a 50-0 record.

Prediction: Mayweather by decision 

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Oddsmakers and betting companies will have a field day this week, as anticipation builds for the boxing match between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The latter is the favourite to win―by quite a margin―but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any prop bets worth taking.

Here’s a look at some of the most intriguing―and lucrative―props being offered. All odds are courtesy of OddsShark.com and accurate as of August 22.

       

Mayweather To Win Rounds 10 (20-1), 11 (22-1) and 12 (20-1)

Yes, Mayweather hasn’t fought since his win over Andre Berto in September 2015, and he has since turned 40. But Money has always been exceptionally good at controlling fights in the latter rounds, and at no point in his career has conditioning been an issue for the veteran.

The same can’t be said for McGregor, who gassed in both of his fights with Nate Diaz―one loss and a win thanks to a late rally―and has only gone past the second round once since his decision win over Max Holloway in 2013.

There’s little doubt the 29-year-old Irishman has been hard at work converting to boxing, and per SportsCenter, he said he’s prepared for any kind of fight:

But most analysts agree his best chance at winning lies in an early stoppage―his entourage has to believe the same and be focused on a fast start. If The Notorious can’t end the fight before the championship rounds, Money appears a safe bet to close things out late.

        

Mayweather Win by DQ (14-1) or McGregor to Throw a Kick (13-2)

Could McGregor resort to illegal tactics if he can’t hit Mayweather early? Normally, it would be ludicrous to suggest such a thing happening, but this is no ordinary fight.

Inside the Octagon, McGregor‘s instincts have always been among his best weapons, and if things go wrong on Saturday, they may well kick in. The Irishman isn’t used to being schooled by technically great opponents, and it’s not like Mayweather has never faced guys with his power or speed, per Indy Sport:

This is far from a safe bet to make, but adventurous punters hoping to win big and observe some high drama in the process could try their luck.

          

McGregor to Win by KO, TKO or DQ (13-4)

Punters backing The Notorious are almost certain to bet on a stoppage, as a decision win for the Irishman―who has never fought as a professional boxer before―seems extremely unlikely.

The odds for a win by KO, TKO or DQ are still fairly solid, and there are pundits and good fighters out there who believe in McGregor‘s chances. Compatriot Michael Conlan is one of them, via bet365:

Mayweather has struggled with lefties in the past―Zab Judah had him in all kinds of trouble in 2006, when he was in his prime―and his shoulder-roll defence works best when he has the advantage in reach, which won’t be the case on Saturday.

Combined with his age and lengthy absence, it is possible McGregor could hurt Mayweather. It isn’t likely, but in order to win big, you sometimes have to bet big.

        

Prediction: Mayweather by unanimous decision, winning eight rounds or more.

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Conor McGregor is just 3-1 to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday when they fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, though Money is still the favourite at 1-4.

The American isn’t backed nearly as much as he was when betting first opened, however.

According to OddsShark, Mayweather opened as the overwhelming favourite at 1-25, while McGregor was just 19-2, but the Notorious is being backed far more than he was previously with the fight fast approaching.

The 49-0 American hasn’t fought since his retirement almost two years ago, and at age 40 that could play a role in how he fares.

Meanwhile, the UFC lightweight champion, 29, is something of an unknown quantity in terms of what he’ll bring to the boxing ring, and that may be resonating with bettors despite his lack of professional boxing experience.

Some might also have been taken in by his superlative skills in the Octagon. MMA writer Patrick Wyman looked at McGregor‘s strengths and style:

He’s not lacking for confidence, either. McGregor has taken to social media to echo the post about Jose Aldo shortly before delivering his infamous 13-second knockout:

Neither fighter is favoured to end the bout as quickly on Saturday, but the Irishman does have the edge in the odds at 14-1 to win in the first round, while Mayweather is 16-1.

However, the latter remains the favourite to win either via knockout at 77-100, compared with 13-4, or by decision at 5-2.

McGregor is 5-1 to win via the judges, but if the fight goes the distance it’s difficult to imagine him having outclassed Mayweather over 12 rounds.

Money is among the most skilled fighters the sport has ever seen, as he proved by equalling Rocky Marciano’s unblemished record, and his defensive talent is such that for all McGregor‘s power, it may mean little as landing significant strikes will likely prove difficult.

Bloody Elbow’s Mookie Alexander believes those backing McGregor are unaware of just how good Mayweather is:

The boxer isn’t quite the force he once was, having knocked out just three opponents in the last 12 years, and McGregor is undoubtedly capable of absorbing strikes, so a knockout victory is relatively unlikely.

However, Mayweather’s talent in the ring is almost unrivalled. His age and lack of practice over the last two years works in McGregor‘s favour, but it’s not likely to bridge the significant skill gap between them.

Prediction: Mayweather wins via decision

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Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor have each carved out their spaces in combat sports history through skill, strategic marketing and a whole lot of money. On Saturday night, they’ll be making a whole lot more cash thanks to the hype they’ve built around their anticipated matchup. 

The debate between MMA and boxing has raged on since the inception of MMA. In fact, the core question of which martial art is the most effective drove the creation of the sport. Now MMA has become big enough that its stars have enough crossover appeal to create what plenty of people will tune into on Saturday. 

While the legitimacy of this fight is up for debate, the money that’s going to change hands is not. Thanks to the backing of his extremely loyal following, McGregor has become a reasonable underdog against the boxing great. 

Justin Hartling of OddsShark provided some context for just how high the odds have become for the Notorious:

Since that tweet, the odds have actually even drawn closer. Mayweather is now just a -400 favorite (bet $400 to win $100), per OddsShark. 

The question, of course, is whether these close odds actually resemble the Irishman’s odds of defeating Mayweather or if they are a product of the hype that he’s created. McGregor’s usual bravado and prognostication have been consistent on social media, and it’s easy to fall into believing what he says when he’s been so right before.

 

McGregor has made a habit out of calling his shot, and he’s generally been accurate. On an appearance on Conan O’Brien’s TBS talk show, he proclaimed he would beat Mayweather within four rounds:

 

That’s a bold prediction, but he isn’t the only one promising to come forward on Saturday night. Mayweather—a master of promotion in his own right—has said he’ll be looking to make this one more exciting than previous Mayweather productions. 

“I owe the fans now, since me and Pacquiao didn’t give the fans a blockbuster, me and McGregor will give the fans a blockbuster.” the 40-year-old said, per Danny Gallagher of the Daily Mail.

“He’s going to land shots because in this fight I’m going straight ahead. Normally it’s more taking my time, being very cautious, but this time I’m going straight ahead.”

Again, Mayweather is a master salesman and we’ve been burned by him before. If you’re paying for a Mayweather fight, it’s because you’re a fan of pure boxing ability or because you want to be watching live when he actually loses a bout. 

If action is the objective, it’s a recipe for disappointment. 

On the other hand, no MMA fan has ever seen a boring McGregor fight. Even in defeat, the Notorious goes out on his shield. 

What it comes down to when choosing who to back on Saturday night is what one believes about McGregor. 

The lefty has a puncher’s chance.

He’ll be the bigger man on Saturday night with a 2″ reach advantage and experience in the UFC’s 155 and 170-pound divisions he could wear on Mayweather long enough to create an opening. With 18 of his 21 wins coming by way of knockout in MMA, there’s power in those hands. 

But a belief that the fight will end with McGregor standing over a knocked-out Mayweather also means you believe McGregor is capable of doing what the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Marcos Maidana and Canelo Alvarez couldn’t do. 

That’s a tall order for someone who is making their professional debut against a man who is 49-0. 

The much more likely scenario is that the multi-division boxing champion demonstrates the difference between high-level MMA striking and pure boxing. Mayweather isn’t beholden to his promises of coming forward. 

He likely puts on a tactical boxing performance on the level of Randy Couture’s wrestling performance when a professional boxer in James Toney attempted to cross over to the world of MMA. 

Getting Mayweather at some of the lowest odds in his recent career against a guy making up his debut is hard to pass up, even if it’s fathomable that McGregor pulls off the improbable. 

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After all of the pomp and bluster, the expletives and excess, the celebration of depravity and commercialism that is Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor is nearing and not a second too soon.

Saturday’s bout in Las Vegas is a prize fight in the most literal distillation of the term, a cash grab so audacious, so over-the-top that it should qualify as one of the greatest heists in history. In time, its story should be told not in a 30 for 30 documentary but in a Dateline episode.                

From the outside looking in, Mayweather and McGregor are rivals: one defending his throne and the honor of his sport while chasing a historic 50-0 record, the other an aggressive interloper brazenly overstepping the bounds of athletic practicality. In the realest interpretation of things, though, they are teammates in a score.

For them, the goal has never been a great fight—it’s all about the numbers. As an observer, the reality that they care less about the product than the production may be difficult to accept after coming to terms with parting with your hard-earned cash, but therein lies the rub.

There is a thought out there that the people ponying up their money for this fight are suckers. Some of them surely are. Others? We’re just in it for the good time, the empty, end-of-summer fun that is no deeper than a roller-coaster ride yet leaves you wearing the same goofy smile.

Maybe we shouldn’t look for something more profound than that. To boot, many people are not sure who they should be rooting for.

Mayweather made his way to the forefront of sports with an obnoxious promotional style predicated on the worship of money above all, which would have been palatable as a gimmick if it wasn’t for his continual failure to be a decent human. Three times, he’s been convicted of charges related to domestic abuse against women, and he’s been arrested or cited for violence against women seven times overall, according to the Boston Globe.

With such a record of misogyny, you would think someone in his inner circle would have advised him that his latest business venture was not a good idea. In May, he opened a Las Vegas strip club. The name? Girl Collection. Yuck.

His unsettling objectification and abusive treatment of women is hardly his only transgression. Floyd has long and happily played the villain for many a fight promotion using his wealth as both justification and shield. During the often entertaining yet equally often over-the-line four-day, four-city press tour, Mayweather, a 40-year-old man, venomously whipped the F-word gay slur at McGregor (warning: NSFW language).

Given all this, it should have been easy for McGregor to walk into the arena with the crowd firmly on his side. While that may still prove true, he has tried his damnedest to channel his inner Floyd.

“People are so touchy on words,” McGregor told MMA Junkie when asked about Mayweather’s slur. “It’s absolutely crazy. If he said that, I couldn’t give a s–t.”

Even served a softball, McGregor whiffed with bumbling oafishness. Perhaps that shouldn’t have come as a surprise, coming so shortly after McGregor addressed claims that he’d made a racist statement by offering as his defense that he couldn’t be racist because he was “half-black from the belly button down.”

Combat sports is not opera, but it’s not always so boorish either.

Let’s be frank for a minute. The most compelling fight promotions often toe the line between sports and entertainment, offering a certain kind of exaggerated propaganda that we all implicitly agree to accept as part of the show. The athletes become characters as much as humans. That semi-reality, quasi-fiction existence is the sweet spot for fans. We want to buy into a good rivalry; all we need is a reasonable entry point.

With Mayweather-McGregor, that doesn’t exist. It’s more of a virtual reality, hyperspace ride that causes euphoria and nausea in equal doses. After all, what exactly are they feuding over? Mostly, it’s about net worth, financial acumen and numbers beyond the scale of comprehension for most of us who are just debating whether to fork out 100 bucks.

It’s certainly not about who’s the better boxer. The athletic competition between them was scarcely mentioned during their tour.

At best, we have to hope this is some kind of psychological jockeying for position, a mind game intent on disrupting one another’s concentration on fight night. We’ve seen McGregor successfully employ such a tactic before against longtime UFC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo.

Throughout the lead-up to their fight, McGregor needled Aldo, a proud Brazilian, with inflammatory claims that went up to and sometimes over the line.

The most famous came in Rio de Janeiro when McGregor claimed the town was his.

“My name, the McGregor name, my family’s motto … means royal is in my blood,” McGregor said. “That goes way back. So for [Aldo] to say he is the king and I am the joker, if this was a different time, I would invade his favela on horseback and kill anyone that was not fit to work.”

Aldo was so incensed by McGregor’s continually venomous comments that when they finally squared off in December 2015, he abandoned his usual early patience and rushed McGregor with a lowered guard, eating a straight left in a stunning 13-second knockout.

So there is more at play here than two sophomoric multimillionaires who are saying ridiculous and offensive things…and wearing profane (yet admittedly funny) suits (warning: NSFW language)…and showing up late to press conferences with no shirt and an ostentatiously garish fur coat.

Still, there have to be limits. After all, upon clicking the “buy” button on that pay-per-view, no one wants to feel like they need a hot shower.

The sad part is both men are more than capable of being charismatic and humorous while offering fascinating insights on the fight game. The sad part is both of them are masters of their crafts. That should be enough to sell this unique matchup. Instead, they’ve offered many of us at least pause to reconsider.

For those of us destined to pull the trigger on Mayweather-McGregor, which man is worth rooting for? That’s a personal decision based on your values or your preferences for sport. We may all be best served viewing it as the fleeting moment in time it’s designed to be. It might prove thrilling or unsatisfying or confusing—or, most likely, some combination of all three. As with a summer fling, mixed emotions are a fundamental part of the deal.

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