This action from UFC 246 in Las Vegas on the weekend, is going to take up a lot of headlines on Sunday, regardless of what happens. It is the return of Conor McGregor to the octagon as the Irishman faces Donald Cerrone.
The rapid sales of tickets for the night has shown that McGregor is still a major box office pull. This is the first time that has fought since that rowdy night in Sin City in October 2018 against Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Read our Conor McGregor vs Donald Cerrone betting tip for more details.
Conor McGregor v Donald Cerrone odds*
Conor McGregor 2/7
Donald Cerrone 5/2
*(betting odds taken from Betfred on January 15th, 2020 at 3:02 pm)
UFC Betting at BetFred
Table of Contents
Can McGregor secure the win?
This fight is not for a title. It almost at the point of being a moment which will define whether or not McGregor will get another title shot again in his career. The 15-month spell away from fighting that he has had, is a long time to be away.
Since his big career moment of claiming the Featherweight Championship in 2015 against Jose Aldo, McGregor has struggled to stick at the top of the sport. There was his Lightweight Championship title against Eddie Alvarez in 2016, which McGregor was stripped off because of inactivity.
But since that title against Alvarez in November 2016, it’s been that one fight against Nurmagomedov that McGregor has had in the UFC. His career record is at W18 D1 L2. The Irishman has two wins basically in just under four years, from four fights.
McGregor is the overwhelming favourite to win this clash and is at 7/4 to make a stoppage in the first round*(betting odds taken from Betfred on January 15th, 2020 at 3:02 pm). However, considering that it has been a while since McGregor has fought and that none of his last four have ended in the first round, the distance may be the key for successful betting on this bout.
Key-Facts – Conor McGregor vs Donald Cerrone
- McGregor hasn’t found since October 2018
- Cerrone has lost his last two bouts
- McGregor is W2 L2 in his last four UFC fights
Can Cerrone cowboy up against Notorious?
36-year-old Donald Cerrone most certainly isn’t the toughest opponent that McGregor could have taken on his return. The American has lost his last two scraps, the first being a stoppage against Tony Ferguson in the second round of their June battle last year. Then on a return to action in September, Cerrone was punched out in the first round by Justin Gaethje.
Cerrone is not really seen as being one of the elites on the UFC at all. There doesn’t seem to have been a great progression from him either. Inside his last ten UEFA fights, he has lost six and four of those have been stoppages. There have been moments in his career where he has failed to bring the right mental approach. That’s happened in some of his higher-profile fights such as when he was stopped in less than a minute against Rafael dos Anjos in what has been his one and only title shot during his career.
Conor McGregor v Donald Cerrone Prediction and tip
McGregor should win this fixture and relatively handsomely as well. Cerrone seems to be someone who gets in his own way and likes to get into a brawl.
Unfortunately for the American, McGregor is a massively better striker than Cerrone is, even at lightweight where power is dialled back a bit. Accounting for things like a bit of ring rust, it’s probably worth avoiding a one-round fight.
A submission from Cerrone is the most likely way that an upset would happen. But McGregor can stand his ground and claim a win. McGregor in Round 2 at 9/2 is the pick*(betting odds taken from Betfred on January 15th, 2020 at 3:02 pm)
