Saturday’s UFC 229 from Las Vegas features one of the most anticipated fights in its history as undefeated Russian lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov puts his title on the line against Conor McGregor, the man who held that title previously but vacated it to take the Floyd Mayweather super fight last August.

Nurmagomedov is an “International Master of Sport” in Sambo, Judo and “Army hand-to-hand combat” besides being a Russian military veteran and a decorated national team wrestler. He works tirelessly to pressure opponents and render the fight uncomfortable for them with his clasping, mauling form of fighting.

McGregor’s popularity and leverage within UFC have allowed him to tailor his opponents to fit his style. He has been tested (and bested) when he is forced to compete against fighters his size or larger and/or fighters who have grappling prowess.

The play: Nurmagomedov (-160). I believe McGregor’s lavish lifestyle will have a negative effect on McGregor the fighter Saturday night. After five to seven minutes it’s my judgment that he’ll wilt under Nurmagomedov’s unrelenting pressure.