MMA Fighters Predict UFC 246 McGregor vs Cerrone Fight

I think if [Cerrone] wrestles in round one he has a good chance to win. But, if he tries to play a boxing and karate game with McGregor, McGregor will knock him out… It’s hard. The odds are more towards McGregor. Cerrone can pull this off too.

I’m going with Conor McGregor to get a finish, and the reason is Cerrone doesn’t know when to stop and let his body heal up. He’s had some time off, so I think it’s going to be a very good fight, but he’s been in some wars lately, some really big wars. He’s been knocked out, and he’s not getting any younger.

Conor has a style to him that lures people’s game out fairly easily. He’s got a karate base, kind of like me, very good at distance management. Cerrone is the type of guy who kind of walks forward, Muay Thai style, very tricky though. But I think Conor, if he lands that left hand, he’ll put him to sleep for sure.

I see a lot of people riding Cowboy off like he is mister wash. Because he’s won some and lost some. But Cowboy is a very dangerous fight for Conor… I know Conor is a professional, and he’s gonna come prepared, but you know he’s underestimated an opponent before, and he paid for it. I think in a sense, he’s kind of underestimated Cowboy. And you have seen before when you light a fire in Cowboy, he’s gonna get going. So I think it’s a good good good fight but I am expecting Cowboy to respond.

Conor is going to press Cowboy. He’s seen enough of Cowboy’s fights that the way to beat him is with a plan and pressure, and that’s exactly what he’s going to do. I think him being a southpaw gives him an advantage. I see Conor using distance with pressure, finding the precise shots and doing damage. I’m going for Cowboy. I would like to see Cowboy win. But if I had to put money on it, I’ll go with [Conor].

It’s just tailor-made for Conor. Flatfooted, right-handed fighter is just custom made for a southpaw with a decent left hand. So, it can be interesting, because even in that mayhem Cowboy can land the knee; he could land the kick. He’s the bigger guy.

I’m going Cowboy. I think that Conor has cashed out…Let’s be honest he couldn’t even knock an old man off a stool. How’s he going to knock out Cowboy?

This is huge for Conor. And usually [Cerrone’s] a slow starter. Not Conor. Conor is a beast in those early rounds. I tell you right now a lot is going to be dictated in that first round, you know?

I think [Cerrone’s] caught up in the “let’s give everybody a show” type of thing. And in that kind of headset I think Conor will probably end up KO’ing him.

I think it’s Conor, fairly easily. TKO. When you look at Cowboy’s last two fights (two stoppages), they haven’t been all that pretty. I don’t think Conor knocks him out clean, but I think he lands enough shots. Most likely the first round, probably. At worst, the second. Cerrone’s only hope is to somehow play really defensive, not let Conor land the big shot, and then Conor gets tired and Cowboy clinches him and lands a lot of strikes from there. Besides that, I don’t think there’s much of a chance.

This fight favors Cowboy a lot more than people think. Donald has a lot more tools to win this fight. I like the fact Donald is going against a southpaw. Kicking is his strong point, so I could see him letting that right kick fly into Conor’s open, left-handed stance. But Conor’s left hand is an equalizer. I think it’s going to be a strongside fight. I see Donald attacking the strong side with the right kick and Conor using that trademark left hand.

The other X factor is Cowboy has a very underrated ground game. He has this inside double-leg takedown he does, where he always lands in a dominant position. And he’s phenomenal on the ground. I really wouldn’t be surprised if part of Donald’s game plan is to get Conor to the ground. Donald has kind of unconventional wrestling. I’m not saying it’s easier to train for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s wrestling, but I am saying Nurmagomedov is a lot more predictable. Cowboy has a funkier wrestling style to deal with.

Conor in the early onset is dangerous as f—. Not only is he dangerous to knock you out, but if you start to concede to it, it’s like a snowball effect. It’s a really interesting fight to call, honesty. I’m going Donald Cerrone. When I pick fights, my bias is usually to the guy with more ways to win. I think he’ll get the job done.

Cowboy has a better chance than people are giving him credit for, especially at 170 pounds. He’s bigger, taller. Conor’s power isn’t gonna carry as much weight at 170, especially against a guy as big as Cowboy, who will be hydrated, not cutting as much weight.

Also, Cowboy has really good kicks. I know that. I took one to my face. Conor keeps his hands low. He’s gotta get close to him. Cowboy has good knees, good timing with his knees. It’s a tough matchup for Conor. On that same token, where is Cowboy at? Where’s his chin? Is he fighting for the money this fight? Is he gonna be an [Andy Ruiz in his rematch against Anthony Joshua] in this fight — get the fight and party the whole time — or is he gonna take it seriously? I think Cowboy will take it seriously, and I pick him to win.