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 concerning the newest comings and goings in MMA. Included in that chat was a spherical of predictions for a number of the greatest matchups on the battle calendar in 2024, and in that regard, Moicano is assured the game’s most well-known star may have a profitable return when McGregor lastly steps into the cage towards Michael Chandler this summer time.
“I like McGregor within the battle,” Moicano mentioned on The MMA Hour. “I may very well be improper, proper? McGregor, [for a] very long time he didn’t battle, we’ve the leg damage and stuff. However on the similar time, I feel Chandler is the opponent to make McGregor shine, proper? As a result of I don’t assume 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 brief and McGregor was so exact, I feel he may get the knockout towards Chandler.”
McGregor advised MMA Preventing earlier this month that his long-discussed however oft-delayed comeback battle towards Chandler is lastly set to occur in the summertime. Chandler echoed that declare, 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 night time sooner or later for McGregor, he doesn’t foresee the identical for one in all MMA’s different large stars.
UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley introduced this previous week that his subsequent title protection 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 mentioned 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 assume he beats Merab,” Moicano mentioned. “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 feel the strain of Merab goes to be an excessive amount of.
“However proper now, I don’t know, it’s important to respect Sean O’Malley for what he did to Chito Vera and it’s important 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 feel it’s wonderful by Sean O’Malley, is the best way he strikes. Very [good] movement. So he can positively beat all people within the 135 [division], however Merab is a tricky battle for him. If I must guess, I might guess on Merab, for positive.”
Moicano additionally weighed in on a possible welterweight bout that, if booked, may very well 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 pictures on social media over a possible bout, and Moicano sees that one as a bonus for the previous guard.
“I feel Colby [wins],” Moicano mentioned. “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 feel he nonetheless can [compete]. I feel Ian Garry, I didn’t like his final battle towards Geoff Neal. I don’t assume it was a aggressive, thrilling match to observe.
“I feel he would have hassle towards Colby.”
