Can Conor McGregor Upset The Odds?

That’s the question on everyone’s lips. Can the MMA fighter from Crumlin, Dublin defeat Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match? Floyd Mayweather a boxing great with a staggering record of 49-0, against a 29 year-old MMA fighter who’s never boxed... 

This fight has grabbed the attention of the world and is one of the most eagerly anticipated bouts in decades. Here’s your rundown of everything you need to know about McGregor vs Mayweather.

Money

It’s hard to talk about this fight without dollar bills crossing your mind, after all it’s pretty much the only thing that Mayweather talks about. The fight is rumoured to be worth $500 million (£385 million) with a split weighted towards Mayweather of around 75-25.

Money from tickets is estimated to be worth around $70 million, with the vast majority of revenue coming from pay-per-view packages. In the US packages are around $100 (£75), whereas the fight is available for £19.95 in the UK.

Sponsorship of close to $20 million will make up the rest of the money making it worth considerably more than the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight. Regardless of the result, Mayweather looks set to double his net worth, which is estimated to stand at $340 million.

Fans

Another reason this fight has caught the imagination is because of McGregor’s cult of personality. The Irishman has gathered a loyal following of fans who hang on his every word and follow him over land and sea. 

In July McGregor’s fans attempted to take the fight to Mayweather themselves as they swarmed his car in London before being eventually dispersed by security. That level of devotion is more often seen in the football stands not ringside, and is proof of the emotions that McGregor elicits in people.

Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather of course has his own hardcore fan base and experts are estimating that 5 million people will tune-in to watch him clash with McGregor.

Betting

The fight is taking the betting world by storm as well, with even casual punters lumping on. Despite Mayweather being heavy favourite to win, the renowned online casino, 888casino, have weighed up all aspects of the fight and have produced a fantastic blog that provides some legitimate answers to the length of McGregor’s odds.

Around three quarters of all bets placed thus far have been on the Irishman. His bravado and confidence seem to have convinced the vast majority of punters that he was it takes to defeat Mayweather.

The Fight

That’s enough on the build-up, the money and the fans, what about the fight itself? McGregor goes into it undoubtedly as the underdog. He’s never boxed before but is about to face a legend of the game, a fighter who has only been hit by 18.9% of all the punches thrown at him.

Mayweather’s speed has made him almost unhittable. His ability to last the distance has helped to make him unbeatable as well. 

He’s only won 26 of his 49 fights through knockout, going the distance in the rest and outlasting his opponent on each occasion. So how is Conor McGregor going to win this?

Discipline

McGregor has a reputation as a ferocious fighter who comes flying out of the traps, usually overwhelming his opponent in the first few moments. Indeed he has won more than half of his professional bouts in the first-round. 

That’s not what he needs in this fight, he needs patience and durability. The kind that he showed when he endured 166 hits from Nate Diaz and triumphed on majority decision 48-47. If he adjusts his game and bides his time then he greatly improves his chances of success.

Power

It’s fairly certain that Mayweather won’t be able to knock out McGregor, he hasn’t won by knockout since 2011 and McGregor is more than capable of taking a hit. The best chance of a knockout is from the Irishman’s left hand.

In 2015 he demonstrated his ferocious power by countering a combination from Jose Aldo with a sledgehammer of a left-hook that knocked out the Brazilian in 13 seconds. He must box clever against Mayweather, but he must also utilise that power to land the decisive blow.

McGregor knocks out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds

Summation

If McGregor can keep his patience and fight smart he has every chance of coming out on top against Mayweather. The American is 40 years-old and somewhat past his best, whilst McGregor is in the prime of his career. The fight has made the headlines due to the shear amount of money involved, it is rumoured to be worth $500 million (£385 million) with Mayweather getting a split of around 75-25. 5 million people are expected to tune-in to watch the two go toe-to-toe and ­it is thought that around three quarters of all bets placed on the bout thus far have been on McGregor. Many people believe McGregor has what it takes but whether their bets payoff is another question. Who knows?