Duke4life831 wrote:I disagree with the answer, but appreciate someone actually giving an answer to this question. Khabib has been wrestling with the likes of DC, Luke Rockhold and Cain for years now. I think he takes down Zion pretty easily.
Then when it comes to Israel, size and length Zion only has like an inch and a half on him probably. I don't think Zion could get close to Israel. His hands and kicks are just way too good.
Khabib is a much better wrestler than Conor and has a lot more upper body, core and leg strength. As such, he's more suited in handling a 6'6'', 290 pound athletic freak on the ground or just in general when he tries to grab him and move him around.
Conor is a specialist striker. His style is about movement and punching with quickness and precision (which is tied to how well he's able to move around, since that's how he finds angles and generates power)...
If an adrenaline pumped Zion closes onto McGregor in a crowded space, Conor can NOT as easily utilize his biggest strengths as a fighter... He would have to hope to find a split decision critical KO or resort to his wrestling and ground skills... which could still be enough for him to win the fight, mind you (anything can happen in a sloppy fight), but the odds are significantly lowered.
Maybe they both fall to the ground just right enough for Conor to slip around Zion (who i'd imagine isn't as nimble on the ground with his weight) to the point where he can get him in a choke-hold or and armbar or snap Zion's leg or something...
Like i said, this fight can have so many variables. If i had a gun to my head, i would pick Conor, because i trust his skill/experience allow him to have more win conditions and be quicker in recognizing and assessing the situation and making the right move... I just think people who believe Zion doesn't have the capacity to seriously hurt Conor are delusional... Zion has enough of a size/weight/athletic advantage to where he can effectively grab Conor (especially if he initiates the attack and Conor finds himself in a crowded area) and slam him on the concrete (which i don't care who you are, if you're getting slammed on the **** concrete by a 6'6'', 290 pound man, you can get your head split open like a coconut)... and if McGregor gets seriously hurt by that action, Zion can finish him off... You really don't need to be a **** black belt guru genius to know how to finish off an injured person... especially when you're much larger than him... Someone said fighting on instincs/adrenaline is bad... maybe so, in an controlled environment, (when your opponent is ready for you and not injured because you can't slam him on concrete), but that doesn't mean it can't be deadly. Animals (yes, humans too) have been killing each other with bare hands off instinct forever...