Conor McGregor addresses Khabib Nurmagomedov’s perceived wrestling advantage

On October 6, in the main event of UFC 229, former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor will attempt to reclaim that latter title from reigning lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Heading into this mammoth showdown, Conor McGregor is believed to have a significant advantage in the striking department, while Khabib Nurmagomedov is perceived to have a major edge in the grappling phase of the game.

That being said, McGregor doesn’t seem too concerned with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s wrestling chops.

“You dive for the legs and hold onto them for dear life,” Conor McGregor said to Khabib Nurmagomedov at the UFC 229 press conference on Thursday. “What kind of fighting is that? With your little fake belt over there, after you beat an 11th-ranked real estate agent. And you bring that belt onstage like it’s a real belt. You’re a phoney, a fake and I’m gonna expose you. Now you’re up here with the real shit here, you’re with the real dogs now brother, yeah? And you’re gonna be smoked on October 6th live on pay-per-view, and I am gonna love every fucking second of it. I hope it’s a long night.”

“You’re gonna be wrestling my knuckle out of your orbital bone,” the Irish star added.

McGregor then reiterated that he and his team have prepared for any trajectory the fight might take.

“We are ready for war,” he said. “We are ready for all outcomes; all scenarios. You are looking at supreme confidence here. We’re gonna go out and enjoy this contest on October 6th. Because again, that’s all I’m doing it for: because I fucking love it. I don’t have to do it either, it’s just ‘cause I love it. That’s it.”

Clearly, Conor McGregor is not too impressed by Khabib Nurmagomedov’s wrestling. From the sounds of it, he’s not impressed by Nurmagomedov’s flawless 26-0 record either.

“Would you believe that he’s 26-0? An unbeaten amateur in the professional game,” McGregor said. “I mean, he’s fucking fought nobody. Absolutely nobody. Anybody that he’s fought has been decisions. He’s in over his head, I’m going to pick him apart and bully him in there and absolutely maul him. And that’s it.”

Who do you think will come out on top when Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov step into the cage at UFC 229?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 9/20/2018.