5 Betting Facts & Stats About Mayweather vs. McGregor

One of the most bizarre confrontations in all of sport is set to take place in Las Vegas, on August 26, as Conor McGregor, the MMA icon, and heavyweight boxing champion Floyd Mayweather are set to take the ring. And, as expected, Mayweather is favorite to win the fight against McGregor. This won’t be the Octagon, by any means — this will be boxing, the sweet science, according to the rules that have been in place since the days of the likes of James J. Braddock and Max Baer, not the free-for- all combat that makes MMA such a popular pay-per- view pastime. So when the opening bell sounds at MGM Grand Garden Arena, a truly extraordinary event will unfold. As you consider your sports betting options for this bout, here are five things you need to keep in mind. Odds continue to shift, as Mayweather opened at -2250 back in November, but now he sits at -700, with McGregor sitting at +500.

5 Betting Facts & Stats About Mayweather vs. McGregor

It’s been a long time since Mayweather last fought

Floyd Mayweather hung up his gloves after dismantling Andre Berto, bringing his record to a pristine 49-0. He is 40 years old. He’ll be stepping into the ring against one of the greatest fighting talents, pound for pound, on the planet. Sure, he’ll have the edge as far as reach goes, and McGregor will have to leave many of his finest moves outside the ring, but given the fact that Mayweather will not have had a real fight in over two years, will he be ready from that opening bell for whatever aggression McGregor unleashes? I see McGregor trying to deliver the knockout blow from the opening bell. Will Mayweather — a consummate defender in his time — be ready for that onslaught?

What about the weight difference?

The bout fight for this matchup is 154 pounds. Mayweather has competed well at that weight, but he has to cut a lot more weight to make fighting trim than McGregor will. McGregor’s most recent action in the UFC has been at 155 pounds. It’s possible that McGregor will have a lot more muscle in the ring than Mayweather will, because of differences in training and in the sheer fact that Mayweather will have to drop so much to qualify.

Watch out for that left!

It’s not just Rocky Balboa who brings a tough left — Conor McGregor is a natural lefty as well. Some of Mayweather’s biggest headaches have come against lefties. Zab Judah bothered Mayweather early on during their bout because of his left-handed setup. Before Mayweather took on Manny Pacquaio in 2015, Oscar de la Hoya pointed out all of the issues that Mayweather has had with lefties, beginning with stopping that persistent jab coming from the other side he expects. But can McGregor get close enough to land any knockout shots with that left hand?

D-Fense! D-Fense!

There are few fighters with the defensive expertise that Mayweather brings to the ring. He didn’t earn that 49-0 record because he has stacked up a pile of knockouts. Instead, he uses a shoulder roll to keep the big shots away. Even when Shane Mosley had Mayweather on the run in 2010, Mayweather was able to resort to that defensive tactic and deliver enough shots of his own to win the decision. Marcos Maidana pushed him to a majority decision in another bout — but the key was defense all the way. McGregor is the opposite, keeping right on top of his opponents and throwing punches by the truck load. When he fought Nate Diaz in 2016, he threw 286 strikes, finding his target with 164 of them (57.3%).

Can McGregor win by simply making it through 12 rounds?

McGregor has boasted about his goal of knocking out Mayweather. The heavyweight champ is not a knockout fighter, so it’s a good question as to whether he’ll be able to finish McGregor before going the distance. You don’t see those big combos from Mayweather, but you might if McGregor keeps coming and leaves his defenses open. McGregor has nothing to lose in this bout — he started out smaller, and he is moving to a sport in which he has virtually on experience. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the judges favor the underdog if he makes a strong case for his ability to hang with the heavyweight.

Latest Mayweather vs McGregor Betting Odds & Props

How Many PPV Buys Will Mayweather vs. McGregor Have?

• Over 4.99 Million: -130
• Under 4.99 Million: -110

Will  There Be a Mayweather vs. McGregor II?

• During 2018 – Yes: +280
• During 2018 – No: -480

Will There Be a Mayweather vs. McGregor Rematch?

• In The Octagon By 2018 – Yes: +900
• In The Octagon By 2018 – No: -5000

Will Either Corner Throw In The Towel?

• Yes: +353
• No: -585

Will Either Fighter Be Warned For a Low Blow?

• Yes: +140
• No: -190

Will McGregor Kick Mayweather During the Fight?

• Yes: +600
• No: -1200

Will Either Fighter Have Points Deducted By Referee?

• Yes: +210
• No: -320

Mayweather vs. McGregor Final Results Odds

• Floyd Mayweather Jr By Ko, TKO Or DQ: -150
• Floyd Mayweather Jr By Decision: +120
• Conor Mcgregor By KO, TKO Or DQ: +500
• Conor Mcgregor By Decision: +3300
• Draw: +2800