Is Size Going to Matter? Khabib Nurmagamedov is Much Bigger Than Conor McGregor… Yes, They Have to Cut Weight But Those Pounds Are Going to Go Back On…
We’re about two weeks out from Conor McGregor vs Khabib Nurmagamedov and the hype has well and truly kicked in. Yesterday it went viral that one of the Irishman’s former training partners has actually joined AKA and is helping the lightweight champion prepare for his upcoming fight.
There are so many dynamics that make this fight interesting. Of course, there’s the fact that one is a wrestler, while the other is a striker. They’ve created a toxic rivalry that reached its pinnacle when McGregor ended up in prison. It’s such a fantastic match-up.
However, one factor that could shift this in Khabib’s favor is his sheer size. Is it possible that he could overwhelm the Irishman? Whoever is the heavier man could be at an advantage going into this one.
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Heavier
For context, here’s Khabib training with heavyweight and light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier this week. The Russian fighter looks absolutely buff. He’s been known to walk around at close to 200 lbs outside of competition, plus he’s a good inch taller than ‘The Notorious’.
As a dominant pressure wrestler, Khabib is one of the most oppressive fighters in the lightweight division. Sure his 26-0 record might be a bit padded, but he’s still unbeaten and has taken out Rafael dos Anjos, Edson Barboza, and Michael Johnson along the way. All of these fighters have been shocked by how freakishly strong he is. Is it even possible for McGregor to be prepared for this?
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Lean and Mean
In the image above, McGregor is hitting pads with his striking coach Owen Roddy. You can see just how lean he looks. While McGregor does have to cut down weight to get to 155 lb, it’s a relatively gentle cut compared to Khabib, or even his early featherweight championship run, when the weight cut drained him so much he looked like a meth head.
Much has been made of how McGregor gasses out after the second round. If we look at this analytically it’s a case of yes and no. This has only happened when he’s fought at welterweight and carried extra mass. We’ve seen him go five rounds against Max Holloway at featherweight, with torn knee ligaments and still dominate. There’s absolutely no doubt his gas tank is stronger with less mass on his body.
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Weight Issues
While McGregor has never failed to make weight or had visible issues in the past, the same can’t be said about Khabib. He has had definite problems with injuries and cutting weight, with many believing he’d benefit from a move up to welterweight or the new 165 lb division (if that’s even happening).
There was the infamous tiramisu week, where the Russian was rushed to hospital after being unable to complete his cut. He also once fought Daniel Horcher at a catchweight after Tony Ferguson withdrew, so that he would not have to complete the vicious weight cut.
While being the bigger man might allow Khabib to assert his ground game more effectively, there’s no doubt that this weight class is more natural for McGregor’s body type. If Khabib gets on top then McGregor could be doomed. However, the fighter more likely to be drained and gas out is actually ‘The Eagle.’
