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Nurmagomedov will make the first defence of his lightweight title against his predecessor at the summit of the 155lbs division in the main event of UFC 229 in the early hours of Sunday
morning. The pair’s showdown, which has been nearly two years in the making, is a throwback to the striker versus grappler match-ups of years gone by and which were so prevalent in the early
days of mixed martial arts. It’s the worst-kept secret in MMA that Nurmagomedov’s path to a successful title defence lies in him utilising his grappling and taking down McGregor, which he
has managed to do to all 26 of his career opponents. Mendez foresees McGregor putting up a tougher fight in the grappling department than most observers believe but is adamant ‘The
Notorious’ will find himself with his back on the canvas eating punishing blows from the undefeated Nurmagomedov. “I don’t think Conor is that easy to take down. So it’s not going to be easy
as people think it is,” Mendez told Express Sport. “There’s going to be some work involved. “But I don’t think Conor is going to be able to stop the takedowns. “His best opportunity,
obviously, is the stand-up because he’s the better striker and he’s a precision striker. “But I don’t think he’s going to be able to stop it. Khabib is going to take him down.” Should
McGregor somehow do what none of Nurmagomedov’s opponents have failed to manage and make it back to his feet without sustaining serious damage, Mendez believes it won’t be long before he’ll
find himself back on the canvas. “If Conor manages to get back up, he’ll take him down again,” the American Kickboxing Academy coach added. “This isn’t one of those, ‘I got one opportunity
to take him down’(fights). “He’s going to take him down multiple times and fight him and smash him. That’s just what’s going to happen.” Although he’s confident Nurmagomedov will have his
way with McGregor, Mendez admits the Irishman possess the ability to end Russia's first UFC champion's brief reign as lightweight champion with one swing of his left hand. “Conor’s
chances?” he asked. “Yes, he’s got that kryptonite that if it lands it puts people to sleep. We’ll see, right? “It’s a great fight to analyse, it’s a great fight to think about because the
what-ifs come out on this one. And who’s right? Is the coach right? Are they right? “I feel 100 per cent correct, but I’ve been wrong before. But we’ll see what happens. I believe 100 per
cent, in my heart, that Khabib takes him down.” McGregor, 30, hasn't set foot inside the Octagon since claiming the lightweight title - which he was stripped of in April - in the main
event of UFC 205, where he TKO'd Eddie Alvarez to become the promotion's first simultaneous two-weight world champion. Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, hasn't fought since replacing
McGregor as 155lbs champion in the main event of UFC 223, where he defeated Al Iaquinta via unanimous decision to become the first Russian to hold a belt in mixed martial arts' premier
organisation. _WANT TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE ONGOINGS DURING FIGHT WEEK? BE SURE TO FOLLOW OUR MAN ON THE GROUND IN LAS VEGAS CHISANGA MALATA (CHISANGA_MALATA) ON TWITTER AND
INSTAGRAM._ UFC 229 FIGHT CARD Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor (lightweight title fight) Tony Ferguson vs Anthony Pettis (lightweight bout) Derrick Lewis vs Alexander Volkov
(heavyweight bout) Ovince Saint Preux vs Dominick Reyes (light-heavyweight bout) Michelle Waterson vs Felice Herring (women’s strawweight bout) Prelims Sean O’Malley vs Jose Alberto Quinonez
(men’s bantamweight bout) - Cancelled Sergio Pettis vs Jussier Formica (men’s flyweight bout) Scott Holtzman vs Alan Patrick (lightweight bout) Fight Pass Prelims Ryan LaFlare vs Tony
Martin (welterweight bout) Lina Lansberg vs Yana Kunitskaya (women’s bantamweight bout) Gray Maynard vs Nik Lentz (lightweight bout) Aspen Ladd vs Tonya Evinger (women's bantamweight
bout) CONOR MCGREGOR VS KHABIB FIGHT CARD AND START TIME: WHO IS FIGHTING ON UFC 229 CARD?