The UFC Fight Night series heads to Ireland on July 19th for an event headlined by the Featherweight match up between the ‘Notorious’ Conor McGregor and Diego Brandao. The books have McGregor, who is fighting in his home country of Ireland, as a big favorite at (-465), with the return on Brandao at (+360).
McGregor is an undefeated 2-0 in the UFC, and he has been bringing a lot of noise and hype in the Featherweight division. His two wins are over UFC veterans Marcus Brimage nd Max Holloway, and Brandao is of roughly the same caliber, with perhaps a bit more danger in his game.
Brandao overall is 4-2 in the UFC and a veteran of over 25 fights. His last outing was a KO loss to Dustin Poirier, who is one of te better Featherweights in the UFC. Brandao is still young at just 27 years old, and technically should be entering his physical prime. He needs a win to stay relevant in the rankings at featherweight, and he may need the win to keep his UFC contract. The fact is that Brandao could fade into anonymity with a loss here.
That would not be the problem for the boisterous and charismatic McGregor. He is unlikely to lose, as the added motivation of fighting at home is likely to be enough to push him to a win all on its own, and his hands and striking prowess are likely to be at their furious best.
McGregor has suffered two losses in his MMA career, both times succumbing to a submission. With Brandao’s background and his preparation and training on finishing a fight on the ground, Brandao will have a huge advantage if he can get the fight to the floor without getting hit by a barrage of strikes.
Brandao is now preparing under the Greg Jackson flag, and Jackson’s fighters always bring a solid game-plan into the fight, and against the heavy handed McGregor, that will revolve around getting the fight to the floor. His success in the match will hinge on how fast he ca get the bout to the floor without becoming another highlight reel KO for Conor McGregor.
