In the short history of UFC grudge matches, Saturday night's main event for the lightweight title ranks among the best. Sure, Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier have shown utter distaste for another both inside and outside the Octagon. As did Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz in the early days of MMA. But when 155-pound champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor are locked inside the cage at T-Mobile Arena, it will just feel different.
The two have a long, strange history of adoration and despair aimed at one another, which turned bitter this spring when McGregor threw a dolly at a bus carrying Nurmagomedov, along with a host of other fighters for UFC 223. Now, after plenty of trash talk and heated moments, the door will lock behind them in the Octagon and there will be no one to help either person. It's showtime.
On top of the great main event, UFC 229 also provides a look at the state of the lightweight division and much more. Here's the full fight card with the latest odds from Bovada.
UFC 229 fight card, odds
| Favorite | Underdog | Weight Class |
|---|---|---|
Khabib Nurmagomedov (c) -160 | Conor McGregor +140 | Lightweight title |
Tony Ferguson -350 | Anthony Pettis +265 | Lightweight |
| Dominick Reyes -210 | Ovince Saint Preux +170 | Light heavyweight |
Alexander Volkov -185 | Derrick Lewis +150 | Heavyweight |
Felice Herrig -130 | Michelle Waterson +100 | Women's strawweight |
Sergio Pettis -150 | Jussier Formiga +120 | Flyweight |
| Vincente Luque -800 | Jalin Turner +500 | Bantamweight |
Aspen Ladd -165 | Tonya Evinger +135 | Women's bantamweight |
Yana Kunitskaya -190 | Lina Lansberg +155 | Women's bantamweight |
| Alan Patrick -260 | Scott Holtzman +200 | Lightweight |
| Nik Lentz -230 | Gray Maynard +180 | Lightweight |
| Ryan LaFlare -140 | Tony Martin +110 | Welterweight |
With a big card on tap, our experts took a crack at picking each of the main card fights. Here are your pick makers: Brian Campbell (combat sports writer), Matthew Coca (producer), Michael Mormile (producer), Jack Jorgensen (editor) and Brandon Wise (editor).
UFC 229 predictions
| Fight | Campbell | Mormile | Coca | Jorgensen | Wise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Khabib (c) vs. McGregor | McGregor | McGregor | McGregor | McGregor | Khabib |
| Ferguson vs. Pettis | Ferguson | Ferguson | Ferguson | Ferguson | Pettis |
| Reyes vs. Saint Preux | Reyes | OSP | OSP | OSP | OSP |
| Volkov vs. Lewis | Lewis | Volkov | Lewis | Volkov | Lewis |
| Herrig vs. Waterson | Herrig | Waterson | Waterson | Herrig | Herrig |
| Overall (2018) | 24-25-0 | 27-22-0 | 26-23-0 | 24-25-0 | 29-20-0 |
Campbell on why McGregor wins: Questions as to whether McGregor is still hungry enough despite his wealth to accept a challenge as dangerous as Nurmagomedov were seemingly answered by his willingness to accept the fight when he didn't have to. What that shows is that he sees something. For all the talk that Khabib's aggressive wrestling style is all kinds of wrong for McGregor (and make no mistake, it is) let's not forget how perfectly vulnerable Nurmagomedov could end up being for counter left hands as he shoots in. Outside of the two Nate Diaz fights at welterweight, McGregor has finished seven of the eight opponents he has faced in the Octagon and each time with punches. McGregor enters this fight with something to prove and that's a dangerous equation for Nurmagomedov, who may be dominant on the ground but lacks a similar record of finishes.
Wise on why Khabib wins: Tread lightly, my friend. Take all the bluster and brashness from McGregor you want, but the man has a clear weakness that sets up for exactly the style that "The Eagle" brings to this grudge match. McGregor's three losses in the Octagon have all come via submission stoppage, each after the fight has been taken to the ground. The comparisons to the Chad Mendes fight for McGregor have been made ad nauseam, but I think Khabib has another trick up his sleeve here. McGregor will try to keep the distance with his jab and heavy left hand, but Russian robot will continue to plod forward with constant pressure and secure the takedowns needed to finish McGregor with some hammer fists.
Jorgensen on why Ferguson wins: "El Cucuy" is back, and I could not be happier about that fact. Now is he back too soon? That we don't know, but he will have to protect that knee he injured back in spring, as Pettis will obviously make that a prime target with his kicks. I think Ferguson will be able to keep those attempts at bay, though, and extend that record lightweight winning streak he still has going for him. Ferguson via submission when the fight gets to the ground, and then it'll be on to face the winner of the main event at some point down the road.
Wise on why Pettis wins: Welcome back to Showtime. The former lightweight champion is suddenly in a great position to snag a shot at the winner of the main event on Saturday. In a fight that will likely end up in a wrestling match with Ferguson's extensive ground and submission game, give me the guy that didn't suffer a freak knee injury six months earlier and who is used to having a bright spotlight on him in an event of this magnitude. Pettis may not be the flying headkick off the cage anymore, but he's still one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world.
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