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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Luke Brown, Jack Watson

Conor McGregor vs Khabib LIVE press conference: Watch video stream ahead of UFC lightweight title fight

Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov will come face-to-face once again this evening, at the final press conference ahead of their eagerly anticipated UFC title fight.

Their lightweight bout has been billed as the biggest in the UFC’s history, with McGregor attempting to recapture the title he previously won by knocking out Eddie Alvarez in November 2016.

It promises to be another explosive presser – join us for live coverage, reaction and analysis by either watching above or reading along below.


So who is this Khabib chump anyway?
 
Distinctive headwear, enemies, records, Insta-fame and Real Madrid, some of the things you may not know about Khabib Nurmagomedov.
 
Don't be naughty!
 
Planning on illegally streaming the fight in the early hours of Sunday morning? Me too! But here's one hapless streamer on why you should probably just cough up and buy the bloody thing.
 
It's incredibly rare these days that a big fight isn't prefaced by weeks and weeks of controversy mongering, but just how genuine is all the hate?
 
Tom Kershaw attempts to explain. (Spoiler alert: not that genuine!)
 
Boos for Khabib 
 
Khabib Nurmagomedov was roundly jeered at his open workout by a pro-Conor McGregor crowd ahead of their UFC 229 showdown.

The Russian, who succeeded McGregor as lightweight champion earlier this year after the Irishman was stripped of the title, was going through his routine at the Park Theater in Las Vegas.
 
However, he was given a hostile reception and appeared to cut his session short to address those in attendance, insisting he would win over those booing him.
 
He said: "Three days. You're going to like me. I know you're going to love me."
 
McGregor's prediction
 
Conor McGregor has made his prediction about how he thinks the fight will go, and *SPOILER ALERT* in an unsurprising turn of events, he reckons he'll win.
 
“It’s good to be back. Let’s go do it. A proper fight, a proper, proper fight.”
 
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the final Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor press conference.
 
The presser is due to begin at 11.30pm GMT and we will bring you rolling coverage of the event, as well as build-up and all the latest in the hours ahead. 

What's the latest?

Conor McGregor believes he has spotted flaws in Khabib Nurmagomedov's fighting style and intends to "take his head off" in their showdown for the UFC lightweight title.

Their bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this weekend has been billed as the biggest in the UFC's history and McGregor is looking to make a statement against the person who succeeded him as 155lb champion.

At the workouts open to the public at the Park Theater, McGregor thrilled those in attendance as he introduced his young son before settling into his routine, predictably focusing on his striking technique.

Afterwards he told the cheering audience: "Saturday night: You're in for a show, trust me on that. I'm going to take his head off. Trust me.

"(It will be a) devastating KO. (Nurmagomedov is) too easy to hit, too flat-footed, too predictable, I'm going to knock him clean out."

McGregor is returning to the UFC after a near two-year absence against Nurmagomedov, who will make the first defence of the title he won by beating late replacement Al Iaquinta in April.

The Irishman was relieved of the crown because of his hiatus from the octagon, having made a brief foray into boxing to challenge Floyd Mayweather in a highly lucrative contest in August last year.

Now he is back in mixed martial arts for a fight that is seen as a puncher versus a grappler, but McGregor is unfazed by his Russian opponent's gameplan.

He added: "I don't give a f*** about anything. Any wrestling, any technique, any anything. I'm coming for that man's head from the f****** bell.

"It's good to be back. Let's go do it. A proper fight, a proper, proper fight."

Nurmagomedov had earlier been given a hostile reception from a largely pro-McGregor crowd and appeared to cut his session short in order to remonstrate with his foe's supporters.

As the jeers continued, he insisted he would win them over, saying: "Three days. You're going to like me. I know you're going to love me."

The 30-year-old, who put a particular emphasis on his takedowns and wrestling during his programme on Wednesday afternoon, also questioned McGregor's pride in his Irish heritage.

McGregor mentioned in last month's press conference about how his ancestors fought the English empire and that his family name was banned for a century by King James.

Nurmagomedov, though, referenced McGregor's grandfather's time with the British Merchant Navy.

Nurmagomedov said: "These guys talk about (how) they fight English people but his grandfather worked with the English navy. Now you support (his grandson)? I'm going to change this on Saturday night.

"I have a question for Ireland. What about your language, what about your Irish language? Where's your language? What's wrong with your language?

"Are you guys right now with England, you guys change your language. Give me answer someone if you can. It's very interesting."

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