The legendary Russian MMA fighter Oleg Taktorov shared his expectations from the fight between KKhabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor at the UFC 229 tournament in Las Vegas on October 6. He believes that the fight ...
- Oleg, are you interested in this fight?
- No, I’m not interested. It will be a boring battle, because Conor will be cautious after two years of layoff, and KKhabib is even more cautious, like a typical mountain man. They have a gene of caution. A powerful army comes - they hide in the mountains, everyone disappears. I have long advised him to take a Mexican coach, because they instill fearlessness. Abdulmanap (KKhabib's father and trainer) did not give him this. Yes, Khabib is the bravest in Dagestan, but with Abdulmanap, he has not grown any further. Transferring Khabib to another coach would be a very wise decision. No matter how much Conor prepares, he will not be able to knock Nurmagomedov, and Khabib, too, will not be able to finish him off. The guys will waste energy and that’s all. After the second round they will have no power, and such a fuss will be all five rounds. If Khabib wins, it's scary to imagine what his fans will do - young people from Dagestan, they will celebrate two or three months.
- What do you learn from the press conference before this fight?
- It was a good press conference, especially for Conor, who was pushing his product Irish whiskey. I think he's matured already for the family, for a quiet life at home, in the evening to go out with friends to drink whiskey in a pub. But it will be difficult for him to get away from fighting, this is his life. He needs to leave with dignity, no defeat. I, frankly, still think that the battle will not take place, because someone of them clearly wants to fall off. I do not know who exactly. If Tony Ferguson were the rival, then both would quit, Tony does not care who to beat. But he was injured.
- Specialists and bookmakers consider Khabib's favorite. What about you?
- I give 80/20 in his favor. If, as in my time, there was no decision in UFC, it would be a draw. And so will the decision of the judges in favor of Nurmagomedov. Khabib will not fight, but he will not be able to take Conor down, and Conor will not be able to knock Khabib down. Conor has good striking technique, but not the same as it was in my time.
- On whose side will your sympathies be?
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- Conor organized all this, raised purses to all, PR all on it. He has already repulsed his own brand, he advertises whiskey. It's a shame that he created this fight, he is the boss here, but he has almost no chances. My sympathies will be on his side, but he will lose.