Mike Tyson has shared his two cents on the heated match-up between Nurmagomedov and McGregor.
Mike Tyson advised Nurmagomedov to agree to a rematch with McGregor. Nurmagomedov decimated McGregor in their last fight once he wrestled him to the ground. Nurmagomedov, a world-renowned grappler, is a legend once he gets any fighter to the floor — it was over for McGregor in short order. And Tyson knows this.
McGregor will take on Cerrone as his first planned fight for his return to the UFC. But after that, it’s pure speculation. Another Nurmagomedov-McGregor match may come to pass in early 2020.
Tyson advised Nurmagomedov to take the bait because there’s a lot of money to be made even though his status as the superior fighter is basically undisputed at this point.
“He’s not going to beat Khabib. He’s gonna never beat Khabib. But people are still going to pay to see him fight Khabib,” Tyson said of McGregor. “Khabib is going to get more money beating this guy that he knows he can beat than he would ever get in a competitive fight against a guy that’s capable of beating him. So, why not fight him 10 times? People will pay to see him fight 10 times, to see him lose 10 times. Now that’s marketing, millions, billions. He’s a genius, you can’t take that away.”
It’s an interesting take from a retired great who clearly views the sport through a business lens. For Tyson, it’s not about lining up the most skilled fighters who will create great fights to watch, it’s about the personalities in the ring and the viewers they draw. A hot take from one of the living champions of the sport.
