ROUNDTABLE (pt. 2 of 2): Do you want to see the McGregor vs. Mayweather fight happen? If it happens, how do you think it will play out once the bell rings?

Do you want to see the Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather fight happen? If it happens, how do you think it will play out once the bell rings?

COLE HENRY, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I’m honesty somewhat indifferent. It would be interesting, and I would certainly watch it, but I’m not sure what to expect. I assume that Mayweather would likely win a very cautious fight, at least on his part. McGregor will likely just do his best to connect, and possibly try to confuse Floyd with his unorthodox stance.

BRANDON SLOAN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Of course I want this fight to happen. This fight couldn’t come soon enough. The magnitude and money that this fight holds is far too great to ignore. I feel like for the combat sports world to restore to order the fight must happen. It’s not a fight to settle a score, or to answer any real competitive questions. It’s simply to produce revenue. And being that the name of the game is prize fighting, I say let’s see it! The negotiations and logistics of composing this event will be long and strenuous, but ultimately the fight is mandatory. So once the ultimate freak show is set and the bell rings what happens?

Well, common knowledge and common sense would say that Floyd picks McGregor apart and makes him look out of place and wins via unanimous decision. But let’s dive a bit deeper.

Now we know Floyd is in a class of his own as a boxer, but that’s not the only aspect of this fight. A huge component when you fight McGregor or Mayweather is the magnitude of the event, and the trash-talking. The stage these two will be on will be the biggest in combat sports history. And unlike most fighters Floyd has faced, Conor loves the spotlight. He has a natural knack for soaking in the big moments, harnessing his focus, and using that energy in the ring. Also when these two meet for press conference weight-ins and staredowns, there will be no shortage of trash talk. And when they exchange words, somewhere in the back of Floyd’s mind has to be the overwhelming fact that his statements would not be true. When he says “Conor, I will whoop you” he has to know in a real fight that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Floyd would eventually have to acknowledge that for the first time in his life the man in front of him would absolutely dismantle him in a back alley or even backstage.

Another interesting thing to look at in the trash talking and how it relates to the ring is the notion that Conor can get inside his opponent’s head. What if all the false trash talk from Floyd and all the real threats from Conor gets to Floyd once that bell rings. What if Floyd is so annoyed by the pesty Irishman that he deviates from his game plan for just a second to really land one on McGregor? Well, it would be in that moment that the Notorious One launches the left hand of doom and lands it on the much smaller Mayweather. Could you imagine that scene? Conor standing over the untouched man, raining over the most successful prize fighter of all time. It would instantly be one of the most iconic sports moments in history.

But wait, there is one more factor we are forgetting. That factor is a stat, a stat that to me demolishes the “what if.” And it disproves the “maybe Conor can get in his head” theory. That stat is 49-0. Forty-nine wins and ZERO losses. Zero! Goose egg! None. Nadda! The man has never lost! And to me that says he has faced adversity and overcome it. It says that he can harness the energy of the big stage and use it like no one else. It says he rises to the occasion. It says the bigger the fight, the better the performance.

All in all, this is a fight that must go down. It’s the biggest money fight of all time and has some very interesting variables. In the end, I think the boxer wins at his own game and the Irishman heads back to the UFC where a line of killers awaits his return.

MICHAEL GROCKE, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Despite the recent news of this fight getting closer to fruition, I just don’t see it happening. While I understand the public’s enthusiasm for such a fight, there are too many obstacles standing in the way. It took six years for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao to get made. How long do you think this will take?

That said, let’s just say the fight happens. While I am in no way a fan of Floyd Mayweather or his fighting style, if he truly comes into the fight looking to prove a point, then I think Conor gets knocked out in the first round. However, if Mayweather is more interested in putting on an exhibition, then the fight will be just like all of his other fights… boring as f**k.

JASON AMADI, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

There is no part of me that wants to see Conor McGregor square off against Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match. What we’re looking at now is McGregor negotiating exactly many millions of dollars it’ll take for him to step into a boxing ring and lay down for Floyd Mayweather. There isn’t anything sporting or interesting about this fight. It’s just a cash grab that makes a mockery of mixed martial arts. This is a fight that would ultimately mean as little as James Toney’s stint in the UFC meant seven years ago.

MICHAEL HISCOE, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I’m not particularly excited about a McGregor vs. Mayweather boxing match as it feels just a little too gimmicky to put an inexperienced boxer in there against one of the best to ever do it. The fight would probably see McGregor try to use his angles and unorthodox stances as he does in MMA to try to lure Mayweather into a compromising position, but Mayweather is too experienced and tactical and will likely put a sustained beating on McGregor, winning by TKO midway through the fight.

CHRISTOPHER KING, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I may be in the minority here, but the McGregor vs. Mayweather fight holds little intrigue for me. If it is a standard boxing match, I fully expect to see Mayweather do what he does best – put on a boxing masterclass, although it may well be of little excitement. If it is any other rules which somehow allow grappling, or kicks, McGregor will destroy him. McGregor has the youth, speed, height, and length advantage which should not be discounted as quickly as some people are doing.

Personally, I still think that there are for more interesting fights for McGregor in the UFC and I find it ridiculous that a two weight world champion has not defended either belt. In no particular order I would rather see him fight any of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tony Fergurson, Max Holloway, Jose Aldo, Anthony Pettis, or George St. Pierre than Mayweather. That is 6 solid options without even having the trilogy fight against Nate Diaz. This is the fight game though, and the only fights to make are the ones that garner the most money and Mayweather is the money fight; no question about that.

NOW CHECK OUT PART ONE ON THIS TOPIC: ROUNDTABLE (pt. 1 of 2): Do you want to see the McGregor vs. Mayweather fight happen? If it happens, how do you think it will play out once the bell rings?