The countdown continues to the Aug. 26 mega-fight between UFC superstar Conor McGregor and boxing pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas. McGregor is currently a +480 underdog at MyBookie with Mayweather at -660. The over/under is 9.5 rounds. Here are some things to know about Conor McGregor.
5 Facts Every Bettor Needs to Know About Conor McGregor
He Plans To KO Mayweather
First of all, Mayweather is unbeaten so he obviously has never been knocked out. He’s also an amazing defensive boxer that he rarely gets hit hard, much less getting knocked to the canvas. McGregor and Mayweather had their first press conference this week, and McGregor said: “He is f– -ed. There’s no other way about it. His little legs. His little car. His little head,” McGregor said during a press conference at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. “I’m gonna knock him out inside four rounds, mark my words.” Earlier this year, McGregor had his first child, Conor Jr., with his girlfriend. He says that fatherhood has given him even greater incentive to perform.McGregor Was Huge Favorite In Last Loss
When McGregor fought Nate Diaz at UFC 196, McGregor, then the featherweight champion moving up in weight, was a -585 favorite – nearly what Mayweather is. McGregor of course lost by rear-naked choke submission in Round 2. McGregor, who was the undisputed UFC featherweight champion at the time, was originally expected to challenge then lightweight title holder Raphael dos Anjos at the event. However, dos Anjos was forced to withdraw from the proposed ‘super fight’ after suffering a foot injury and so Diaz stepped in on extremely short-notice to take on McGregor in a welterweight contest at 170 pounds. Eventually, the finish came at 4:12 of the second round in a bout McGregor appeared to be in control of early. McGregor blamed the loss, his first since 2010, on inefficiency. All three of his professional losses have come via submission. “I took the chance in going up to 170,” McGregor said. “I was inefficient with my energy. I’m humbled in victory and defeat. He took the fight on short notice and done the job. He was efficient. I was not. These things happen. I’ll learn, and I’ll grow. I’ll face it like a man.”McGregor Was Last An Underdog …
Needless to say, MMA odds are very different than boxing odds in this regard because McGregor has no boxing experience. But the Irishman was last an underdog when he fought champion Jose Aldo for the featherweight belt at UFC 194. For instance, he was only a slight dog then and won in 13 seconds. One punch. One knockout. And a couple quick follow-ups on the floor for good measure. McGregor made UFC history with the fastest knockout in a title fight, beating the 14-second mark set by Ronda Rousey. As Aldo threw a right hand, McGregor threw a straight left that drilled the champion on the chin and put his lights out. He quickly followed Aldo to the canvas – even though a left hand Aldo threw at the same time actually connected with McGregor’s head.About That Lack Of Boxing Experience
In reality, no one is giving McGregor much of a chance here because he has as many pro boxing matches on his resume as you or I do. But noted Irish trainer Paschal Collins remembers an unknown MMA enthusiast who was at home in the boxing gym. “Four years ago, I always reckoned that he could have gone all the way in boxing for the reason that his work ethic is unbelievable,” Collins said. “He trains – no, he practices – three times a day. You know when somebody walks into a room and they stand out? He had a confidence but behind the scenes he keeps his head down. I would watch him for an hour and he’d practice the same move over and over. He stood out, absolutely.” Three uppercuts accounted took care of Marcus Brimage in McGregor’s 2013 debut, then a big left hook made him the first-ever simultaneous two-weight champion against Eddie Alvarez last November. He has racked up seven of his nine victories in the UFC by knockout or TKO, with the exceptions being a fight at a higher weight class (Diaz) and one during which McGregor tore his ACL (Max Holloway).Rounds & Gloves Might Matter
McGregor wears four-ounce gloves when he steps into the octagon. In this case, he’ll be wearing 10-ounce boxing gloves against Mayweather. That’s a big difference. In addition, McGregor’s longest-ever MMA fight lasted five rounds and only two of his bouts made it past the second. And a boxing match is 12 rounds. According to one of his main sparring partners, top Irish boxing prospect Tiernan Bradley, the UFC lightweight champion is a much better boxer than people think. “Conor is a very good boxer,” Bradley said. “He doesn’t move like any other boxer. He’s powerful, fast and light on his feet … He’s very good at getting in and out and connecting. He’s so quick on his feet it’s very hard to judge the distance with him. He’s so fast and unpredictable — that’s a very dangerous combination. I don’t think Mayweather has ever boxed anyone like that.” “It’s very different to any style I’ve seen over the years,” Bradley added. “He has this strange style and he can keep going at a serious pace for 12 rounds. He’s on his toes and he’s constantly keeping you guessing. … I’ve got a black eye at the moment and I got that from him when he was wearing 16-ounce gloves.”Latest Mayweather vs. McGregor Betting Trends
Favorite to Win the Fight
- Conor McGregor: +500
- Floyd Mayweather: -700
How Many PPV Buys Will Mayweather vs. McGregor Have?
- Over 4.99 Million: -130
- Under 4.99 Million: -110
Will Mayweather and McGregor Have a Second Fight?
- During 2018 – Yes: +280
- During 2018 – No: -480
Will Mayweather and McGregor Have a Rematch?
- In The Octagon By 2018 – Yes: +900
- In The Octagon By 2018 – No: -5000
Will Either Corner Throw In The Towel?
- Yes: +353
- No: -585
Will Either Fighter Be Warned For a Low Blow?
- Yes: +140
- No: -190
Will McGregor Kick Mayweather During the Fight?
- Yes: +600
- No: -1200
Will Either Fighter Have Points Deducted By Referee?
- Yes: +210
- No: -320
Will Both Figthers Go the Distance?
- Yes: +125
- No: -175
Mayweather vs. McGregor Final Results Odds
- Floyd Mayweather Jr By Ko, TKO Or DQ: -150
- Floyd Mayweather Jr By Decision: +120
- Conor Mcgregor By KO, TKO Or DQ: +500
- Conor Mcgregor By Decision: +3300
- Draw: +2800
