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Within the phrases of Conor McGregor, Renato Moicano predicts these items.
As his UFC 300 showdown towards Jalin Turner looms, Moicano stopped by The MMA Hour for a wide-ranging dialog in regards to the newest comings and goings in MMA. Included in that chat was a spherical of predictions for among the greatest matchups on the combat calendar in 2024, and in that regard, Moicano is assured the game’s most well-known star can have a profitable return when McGregor lastly steps into the cage towards Michael Chandler this summer season.
“I like McGregor within the combat,” Moicano stated on The MMA Hour. “I could possibly be improper, proper? McGregor, [for a] very long time he didn’t combat, we’ve the leg harm and stuff. However on the similar time, I believe Chandler is the opponent to make McGregor shine, proper? As a result of I don’t suppose he’s going to take McGregor down, simply because he doesn’t shoot for wrestling. He’s a wrestler, however we don’t see him [use it]. We see him brawling. And since he’s so quick and McGregor was so exact, I believe he may get the knockout towards Chandler.”
McGregor instructed MMA Combating earlier this month that his long-discussed however oft-delayed comeback combat towards Chandler is finally set to happen in the summer. Chandler echoed that claim, nevertheless each males declined to disclose whether or not their beforehand declared date of June 29 stays the official goal for the bout. The 2 have been linked to a tentative UFC matchup since teaching reverse each other on The Final Fighter 31 in early 2023. McGregor has not competed since breaking his leg in a July 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier.
Whereas Moicano sees a profitable evening sooner or later for McGregor, he doesn’t foresee the identical for one among MMA’s different huge stars.
UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley introduced this previous week that his next title defense will certainly come towards Merab Dvalishvili, the Georgian successful machine whose wrestling expertise and seemingly superhuman cardio have carried him to a division-best 10-fight win streak. Moicano stated he gained a newfound respect for O’Malley after watching him dismantle Marlon Vera at UFC 299, however he thinks the American’s title reign ends right here.
“I don’t suppose he beats Merab,” Moicano stated. “Stylistically [it’s a bad fight for O’Malley], proper? We by no means know. He bought [past] Aljamain Sterling — Aljamain Sterling is an effective grappler, a tall fighter for 135, he’s heavy. However on the similar time, the strain that Merab has [is dangerous for O’Malley]. However on the similar time, [Henry] Cejudo bought Merab [good] one time, proper? Marlon Moraes, different fighters bought [Dvalishvili with] the left hook, so the left hook goes to be over there. However I believe the strain of Merab goes to be an excessive amount of.
“However proper now, I don’t know, it’s a must to respect Sean O’Malley for what he did to Chito Vera and it’s a must to respect Chito Vera for hanging with him for 5 rounds, even with a damaged face and stuff. So respect to him. And the factor that bought me extra [respect for O’Malley], that I believe it’s superb by Sean O’Malley, is the best way he strikes. Very [good] movement. So he can undoubtedly beat everyone within the 135 [division], however Merab is a tricky combat for him. If I must guess, I’d guess on Merab, for certain.”
Moicano additionally weighed in on a possible welterweight bout that, if booked, could possibly be one of many UFC’s most polarizing matchups made in 2024. Undefeated up-and-comer Ian Machado Garry and three-time UFC title challenger Colby Covington proceed to commerce photographs on social media over a possible bout, and Moicano sees that one as a bonus for the previous guard.
“I believe Colby [wins],” Moicano stated. “The wrestling, the wrestling, yeah, the strain. Lots of people are giving s*** to Colby Covington, however he’s nonetheless — he’s not younger, however I believe he nonetheless can [compete]. I believe Ian Garry, I didn’t like his final combat towards Geoff Neal. I don’t suppose it was a aggressive, thrilling match to look at.
“I believe he would have bother towards Colby.”
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