UFC 205 Preview: Alvarez vs. McGregor
For the first time in history, the Ultimate Fighting Championships(UFC) will be held in New York at Madison Square Garden with its most anticipated event to date. Headlining the superstar heavy card are Philadelphia's lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and Ireland's featherweight champion Conor McGregor. Both fighters are at the top of their game and are poised to make history with a win in this lightweight title fight. Lets take a look at how they match up:
Tale of the Tape
Overview: Alvarez (28-4) (3-1 in UFC)
Eddie Alvarez is a bulldog in the octagon. The guy compares well to a smaller Robbie Lawler and a bigger Jose Aldo. He is known as one of the most mentally tough and powerful fighters around, who always looks to finish the fight. Alvarez has fighting experience all over the world in organizations like PRIDE in Japan, and BodogFIGHT where he held the welterweight title(170). He is somewhat of a newcomer to the UFC, however he was able to jump right into the mix of the top ranked middleweights in the world with an overall record of 28-4. Some notable UFC wins include those over Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez, and most recently the former champion Rafael Dos Anjos, who he TKO'd in the first round.
Keys to victory:
Alvarez is a superb wrestler with knockout power. There are virtually no holes in his game. Although Alvarez can trade punches with anybody, Conor is a surgeon with his strikes and has a 5-inch reach advantage. Alvarez will need to circle away from Conor's straight left, close the distance, and aggressively seek the take down.
Alvarez fight highlights:
Overview: McGregor (20-3)( 8-1 in UFC)
Conor McGregor is the current face of the UFC for good reason. He is cocky, talented, a masterful trash talker, and is not afraid to play the bad guy. Above all, McGregor is a workhorse consumed by progress and success. If McGregor wins Saturday, he will be the first fighter in UFC history to hold two championship belts in two different weight divisions. If successful, this will be the second time Conor has held two belts at two different weight divisions since he defeated Ivan Buchinger by first round KO in the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship(CWFC). Some notable UFC wins include those over Nate Diaz, former featherweight champion Jose Aldo, and skillful veteran Chad Mendez.
Keys to Victory:
Conor McGregor is masterful in all aspects of fighting inside and outside of the octagon. He mentally destroys his opponents with clever and calculated trash talk, and then backs it up with an early round KO. So far McGregor has stuck to the plan, and Alvarez seems to have fallen into the mental war zone of McGregor's. Stylistically Alvarez matches up well with McGregor, as this looks to be the toughest match up for him yet. McGregor will need to avoid the take down, control the distance, and look for openings for the left hand to land.
McGregor fight highlights:
Prediction:
McGregor over Alvarez TKO round 2.