Georges St. Pierre’s Head Coach Firas Zahabi Has Given His Prediction For Conor McGregor v Khabib Nurmagamedov… He’s Expecting it to be Very One-Sided…
Firas Zahabi is one of the most respected MMA coaches in the world. One of the founders of Canada’s Tristar Gym, he is renowned for being the main man behind George St. Pierre’s success. Famed for his analytical approach, he’s single-handedly changed many people’s perceptions of MMA as a sport.
As an MMA expert, he has naturally been asked to give his opinion about the upcoming fight between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagamedov. He stopped short of picking a winner but does think that whoever wins will do so in dominant style.
McGregor and Khabib will fight in Las Vegas on October 6 in Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena. It will be the culmination of a toxic rivalry that has seen Artem Lobov intimidated, McGregor in a jail cell, and Khabib’s famous words – “I stay on bus” – blasted around the internet.
Clash of Styles
Like many people, Zahabi focused on their different styles. He believes that the fact that they are so different, it will stop the match from being a competitive contest. It will go one way or the other, with one man being dominant. He said in a live chat:
“What I’m doubting, what I don’t see very likely is a seesaw battle. Where there’s a lot of stand up, then they hit the ground, then they get back up, and they’re striking and they’re wrestling, and it’s a back-and-forth battle where it’s coming down the last round — that, I don’t see.
“I don’t see a very competitive fight even though these two fighters are great phenomenal competitors. The only reason I don’t see it that way is not because one fighter is more skilled than the other. No, far from it. The only reason I do see it this way — a one-sided victory — it’s purely because of their styles. McGregor’s style is completely opposite to Khabib’s.”
Game Plan
Zahabi believes that we’re not going to see anything new from either fighter. They’re both going to stick to what works best. Why fix what isn’t broken?
“If Khabib tries to pick and poke at McGregor from afar with that jab, that would really really surprise me,” Zahabi continued. “If McGregor tries to dirty box with Khabib, that would really surprise me, because any tie-ups with Khabib will probably result with McGregor being put on his back.
“So I think they’re gonna be really on their game plan that night. It’s going play their game for real, the way they really play it. That’s McGregor at a distance, sniping, and that’s Khabib up-close, in personal, tying up, clinching.”
Makes Sense
It makes sense really. McGregor is a southpaw counter striker – very different to Edson Barboza who pushes forward. He typically keeps his hands low, waiting to scorch his opponent with his left hand. Expect him to tenderize Khabib’s body with front kicks. Meanwhile, Khabib will push forward and try and ruin McGregor’s life. Zahabi concluded:
“It’s going to be a blowout either way. Either Khabib is going to win and it’s going to seem lopsided… Khabib is going to take him down and maul him, or McGregor is going to catch him on his way in and knock him out. It’s going to happen one way or another.”
