Conor McGregor is the biggest name on the planet when it comes to MMA. The Notorious One has made such an impact in his run with premier MMA promotion, the UFC, that he has garnered worldwide mainstream appeal for his ability to talk trash and then back it up inside the octagon.
Shinsuke Nakamura, on the other hand, is one of the most recognisable names in the world of pro-wrestling. Now part of WWE's NXT roster, The King of Strong Style made a name for himself as a premier wrestler during his days in Japan with New Japan Pro Wrestling where he put on world class matches against the likes of AJ Styles.
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Despite these two men never having crossed paths professionally, it would be an undisputed treat to see them square off. The best from two different yet similar worlds clashing in a match that will draw in audiences from all across the planet. It would be one hell of a dream match.
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So, without further ado, here are 5 reasons why Conor McGregor should fight Shinsuke Nakamura:
#5 Their charisma
Conor McGregor's rise to superstardom can be attributed to the fact that he is the most charismatic fighter to ever step foot inside an octagon. He has a devil may care attitude that grates on his opponent's nerves while at the same time endearing him to fans all around the world.
The key difference between McGregor and somebody like Chael Sonnen – a great trash talker in his own right – is that the Irishman is always able to back up his words with incredible performances when it comes to the actual fight.
Shinsuke Nakamura utilised his superb charisma to make himself one of the most popular wrestlers during his time in New Japan Pro Wrestling but what is truly impressive is how well he has managed to win over the western audiences even with his limited grasp of the English language.
Using nothing more than his body language and ability to connect with audiences he has wowed the WWE Universe like no other non-English speaking wrestler has before him. He is truly one of a kind.
Putting these two up against one another will ensure that they are able to use their high levels of charisma and work both with and against each other with little difficulty, all the while drawing audiences into their feud.
#4 Their styles are perfectly matched
Conor McGregor has very limited exposure to wrestling in any form as he is an MMA fighter whose style is based around his elite level striking rather than grappling and amateur wrestling.
Shinsuke Nakamura made a name for himself as The King of Strong Style for a reason. Strong Style wrestling is a style where the moves are extremely stiff and could well hurt your opponent unless you can execute it flawlessly.
This is where Nakamura excels and the fact that his offence is mostly based on high level striking rather than a more grappling or aerial style means he is perfectly suited to match Conor McGregor's style if they square off.
With both men looking to beat the ever-loving hell out of each other, their styles ensure a contest that is in no way, shape, or form, boring.
#3 Global appeal
The UFC's home base is the United States of America. The WWE's home base is the United States of America. Despite both promotions having a large presence in other countries, it is the USA where the majority of their revenues come into play.
This is what makes someone like Conor McGregor so valuable to the UFC: He is able to draw in crowds from all around the world, and especially Ireland. His popularity is so extreme, in fact, that a large number of Irish fans make the trip across to the States in order to see him fight. This sort of drawing power makes McGregor worth his weight in gold.
Shinsuke Nakamura presents the same kind of appeal, except his fans, come in all the way from The Far East. Japanese people consider him a sort of hero and the fact that he has been so successful in the west only makes them love him more.
Combine the two and you have global fans at your doors.
#2 A hot live crowd
One of the most important aspects of a fight is the performance of the crowd. It can elevate fights into the upper echelons of elite level matches or it can drag fights down into the dumps. Just look at Hulk Hogan vs The Rock and Brock Lesnar vs Goldberg I for examples.
The one thing you will guarantee if McGregor vs Nakamura happens is that the crowd will be beyond hyped from start till finish and then some. There is no way two people with the kind of widespread support these two have will not engage the audience for the entire duration of their contest.
Conor McGregor facing off against Shinsuke Nakamura is an instant classic.
#1 The fight can even happen under MMA rules
The best part of the Conor McGregor vs Shinsuke Nakamura matchup is the fact that it isn't restricted to just the wrestling ring. It can even happen inside an MMA octagon owing to Nakamura's extensive MMA experience as a former MMA fighter,
The flexibility in terms of booking ensures that there will be an option in order to make his fight happen regardless of what the arena is where they will face off. Hell, they can even do one fight on wrestling terms and one on MMA terms if that's what it takes.
The possibilities are endless and they are all a guaranteed success.
