The matchup we've all been wanting, is finally happening. As Floyd Mayweather looks to go 50-0, facing UFC's Conor McGregor for the first time in a boxing ring.
“He's a very calculated, a tactician of his own, that's going to pick Conor apart,” says local MMA fighter Anthony Birchak. A product of Sahaurita High School, Birchak has been fighting professionally since 2009.
“The fact that so much attention is being drawn to combat sports is important,” says Birchak. But he didn’t mince words when asked if UFC's top fighter has a shot against Mayweather in the ring. “Absolutely not,” as Birchak answers quickly and swiftly.
Birchak reflects back to McGregor’s fight against Nate Diaz, which saw the fighter hand McGregor his only loss in the octagon. But moving from the cage to the ring may be more difficult for McGregor than you'd think. “When you get hit hard, you run on just pure animal survival. If Conor gets hit in the head a lot, the brain doesn't say ok, this is boxing. It's survival.”
Noting that McGregor could have a hard time suppressing his natural instincts to use his legs. But Conor does have that left hand though, that Birchak says can change the layout of a fight at any moment. But even if McGregor doesn't land a punch on Mayweather, he's still wins big.
“I'd be willing to fight a lot of people for 75 million dollars,” jokes Birchak. I’m sure plenty of others would too.
