Lobov: McGregor can out wrestle Nurmagomedov

It is widely believed that UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov can outwrestle former champ Conor McGregor and that Notorious can outstrike ‘The Eagle’. In a recent interview with The Mac Life, McGregor’s SBGi teammate Artem Lobov argued that’s half right.

It is true that Khabib doesn’t really have any striking, but it’s certainly not true that Conor’s grappling or wrestling is not on that level,” said Lobov, as transcribed by Anton Tabuena for BE. He can easily out-grapple Khabib, and in the wrestling as well. Of course, this is Khabib’s game, so we’re not stupid. We’re not gonna fall into his hands right away, but make no mistake about it, we’re gonna be ready everywhere.

I see Conor stopping him in Round 1. I just don’t see Khabib being able to do anything. Look at some of his other fights he’s been in. The Iaquinta fight, when he was connecting, Khabib did not like it at all. He was going back, leaning back, turning away, closing his eyes. The same against Michael Johnson. When Michael Johnson connected, Khabib couldn’t take him down anymore. The only reason they ended up on the floor was because Michael Johnson decided to wrap up the guillotine and bring him down himself — which was the biggest mistake of his life. I’m sure he still regrets that. Either than that, he had stuffed Khabib’s takedowns already.

So I see all that, I see Conor in training. I see his timing, I know his wrestling, how good his grappling as well. I just don’t see it any other way. First round stoppage for Conor McGregor.

Khabib Nurmagomedov fights Conor McGregor in the main event of UFC 229 on October 6, 2018 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada