Ever since it was formally announced in June that the undefeated Floyd Mayweather would fight UFC Lightweight champion Connor McGregor in a 12-round boxing match, the hype machine has been churning at full gear. After years of speculation, months of smack talk, and several highly eventful press conferences, it will all go down on Saturday night in Las Vegas in what many people are calling 'The Fight of the Century.'
Mayweather, a Grand Rapids, Michigan native, has a career record of 49 wins and zero losses. McGregor, from the mean streets of Crumlin, Ireland, is entering uncharted waters, but has been shaving down the betting odds at a steady pace, and has a massive fanbase as arguably the most popular UFC personality since the prime years of Canadian legend Georges St. Pierre.
So how do locals in the combat sports community feel?
"It's something I didn't really follow too much leading up to it, I've just been so busy here, but I've got to go with Mayweather in that one," said Matthew Poulin, owner and head trainer at Total Martial Arts Centre.
"I'm going to close my business if McGregor wins. That's it. The boxer has to win," said Shawn Johnstone, a head trainer at the Timmins Boxing Club, who added there could be slight window for the Irishman early on.
"Obviously McGregor's got a puncher's chance, and I'm curious to see how it's all going to play out. McGregor's got that big head, its a big target, but it's also a very strong head. It will be interesting to see if he's going to step through everything to get to Mayweather. He's putting on a good front that he's just going to walk into him, but I don't know," he said.
Indeed McGregor has been rather brazen in his own predictions, stating that he will knock Mayweather out 'within four rounds'.
"I'd love to see it the other way to be quite frank with you. I'd like to see Mayweather knock him out cold, just to shut him up for awhile. That would be wonderful. I know a lot of people enjoy the antics (of McGregor) but it's not my cup of tea, and Mayweather was never my cup of tea either. I'm cheering for Mayweather because I'm cheering for the boxer, obviously," said Johnstone.
"Connor actually started as a boxer. So he actually has bouts under his belt. I think he boxed for three or four years (but not professionally). But when you're going up against the greatest defensive boxer of all-time, it's a little bit different," said Poulin.
Neither Poulin or Johnstone envision the fight ending too quickly.
"I don't necessarily think he's going to punch him out in three or four rounds. I think it may go a lot farther than that. I think if McGregor hangs in there and makes it the distance, win or lose, he's won. That's how I'm looking at it," said Johnstone.
He isn't anticipating a major change in Mayweather's approach, as he is known primarily for defense and stamina. He says an early high-tempo attack doesn't make much sense.
"I could say that he's going to do it, but I don't feel that would play into his hands. He is the fighter that he is, for his counter-punching and tactical reasons. I can't see him coming out and swinging for the fences. I can see McGregor trying to take him out early, and that's going to be interesting how that plays out right away, because McGregor has to be very aggressive."
Poulin on the other hand feels that the intensity could ramp up for 'Money' Mayweather if he is feeling extra confident.
Head coach and owner of Total Martial Arts Centre Matthew Poulin predicts a Mayweather victory. Andrew Autio for TimminsToday "I think if its going his way in the first four or five rounds, I think he'll pick it up just to prove a point. I think we might see him get a little more aggressive in the later rounds," he said.
"I would give Connor a chance in the first three rounds to catch him. But after three rounds, I don't know. My official prediction is Mayweather, a seventh or eighth round TKO. I think the body shots are going to accumulate and he's going to tire him out. By then, he's going to slip and land a hook or an uppercut off of a body shot and that's it."
There is a significant age difference in the combatants with McGregor only 29, and Mayweather at 40, but it may not be as much of a factor as some predict.
"Even though Mayweather is 40, and coming in off a long layoff, he's still got to be the favourite in my eyes," said Poulin.
"There's lot of guys fighting in their 40's now. It shouldn't be an excuse if he's taken the fight," said Johnstone.
There has been physical obstacles for both men to overcome. Mayweather was well into 'retirement mode' while McGregor has had to drastically alter his fighting style for the match.
"A lot of people forget that he's a kicker. In MMA now he's a kicker. I know he's only been training boxing during his training camp, but he also has to concentrate on 'not' doing that. His last UFC fight was just kick, kick, kick, kick, so he has to actually think to not throw a kick. There's a bit of muscle memory in play," said Poulin.
Exact financial figures aren't known yet, but rest assured the pay days will be massive. Mayweather is expected to earn at least $100 million, while McGregor is expected at least $75 million, which would be five times as much as he has ever earned for a UFC match. If pay-per-view targets are reached, there are reports that Mayweather could earn a staggering $400 million from the match alone when its all said and done.
This had led to speculation that a re-match is already in the works, with some questioning the legitimacy of the matchup altogether.
"It's real. I think it's the highest grossing fight ever, you whatever you make of it, it's a real fight. There's no doubt about it. You can call it a farce. I've done that. Several times now. But it's not over until it's over, and it'll be interesting and I've just got to believe that the boxer is going to win this match," said Johnstone.
Vegas odds, which change daily, still has Mayweather as the favourite. The match is expected to get underway a little after 9 p.m. on Saturday.
