UFC 229: Main Card Predictions

Lightweight Championship: Khabib Nurmagomedov (C) vs Conor McGregor

Lightweight: Tony Ferguson vs Anthony Pettis

Light Heavyweight: Ovince Saint Preux vs Dominick Reyes

Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis vs Alexander Volkov

Women's Strawweight: Michelle Waterson vs Felice Herrig

UFC 229 is one of the most anticipated MMA events of 2018 with the long-awaited return to the Octagon of Irishman, Conor McGregor versus the unbeaten Lightweight Champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Underneath, there are four more exciting bouts to be decided throughout the card. The following slideshow previews all upcoming main card fights set to take place at the big show and makes predictions for the outcomes of each fight.

Women's Strawweight: Michelle Waterson vs Felice Herrig

Waterson and Herrig set to collide at UFC 229

The "Karate Hottie" Michelle Waterson will be the minor favourite in this match but make no mistake the American will have her work cut out against a much improved and dangerous, Felice Herrig.

Herrig should match up to Waterson standing and is superior in the clinch.

Despite that fact, however, Waterson is more experienced against stronger opposition and possesses far more impressive submission skills.

The story of the match will be whether Waterson can take Herrig down to the mat to exploit her ground skills.

Should she do that, there will be only one winner.

Prediction: Michelle Waterson via submission

Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis vs Alexander Volkov

Alexander Volkov should overcome veteran, Derrick Lewis

Alexander Volkov has won his past six MMA fights and all of his four UFC bouts thus far and is looking to make a splash in the company as he works his way up to become top contender for the UFC Heavyweight Championship.

For his part, Derrick Lewis has an impressive list of victims on his resume as well, having competed in UFC for the past four years.

Having competed in or around the pinnacle of the division for a long time, Lewis will be determined to ensure he is next in line for a crack at Daniel Cormier's Heavyweight Championship which could well happen if he is victorious here.

However, the six feet 7 inch Volkov will prove a problematic opponent for Lewis given that his great strengths such as his height, power and reach are all bettered by Volkov.

It is by no means a certainty, but Volkov should emerge from this bout as the winner.

Prediction: Alexander Volkov via KO

Light Heavyweight: Ovince Saint Preux vs Dominick Reyes

Dominick Reyes will be confident of victory at UFC 229

Dominick Reyes is on a real roll right now in UFC and his opponent, Ovince Saint Preux represents a step up in class which will be a test for the man who is 3-0 in the Octagon. However, it is one Reyes should pass with flying colours.

OSP has been fighting in the UFC since 2013. Renowned for his innovative Von Flue choke, OSP will be looking to end the perfect UFC record of his opponent in memorable style.

However, at 35 years of age, his career is on a downward trajectory as he has lost five of his past ten fights and is seven years the senior of his opponent.

Reyes will use his superior cardiovascular conditioning to dodge OSP's strikes and pick his own spots which should land more and more as the fight reaches a conclusion.

Prediction: Dominick Reyes via Decision

Lightweight: Tony Ferguson vs Anthony Pettis

Ferguson and Pettis to meet in a bout with title implications

In the second most anticipated fight on the card, Tony Ferguson and Anthony Pettis will fight to put themselves into contendership for the winner of the main event Lightweight title bout.

Former Lightweight Champion, Pettis has had a rough time since relinquishing that title, boasting an uninspiring 5-3 record in his eight bouts since, and the speed and prowess that once embodied his fighting style has long since deserted him.

In contrast, Ferguson is a fighter whose career is on the up. The submission specialist should have far more in the tank than his opponent and while the fight could be a close one, there should be little doubt as to who will win.

Prediction: Tony Ferguson via submission

Lightweight Championship: Khabib Nurmagomedov (C) vs Conor McGregor

Khabib is the bookies' favourite to win the Lightweight title clash

In a battle of opposites, unbeaten wrestler, Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will collide with the greatest draw and deadliest striker in UFC history, Conor McGregor with the title on the line.

McGregor's best chance of victory would be to knock out Khabib early but that is easier said than done against a fighter that has never lost in a decade of MMA competition.

Khabib's strength is wearing opponents down with his wrestling skill by securing takedowns.

Although he hasn't fought in the Octagon in two years, McGregor has demonstrated in his most recent UFC bouts that he has a superb counter game to wrestlers and he will be confident of overcoming Khabib's skills to land a knockout blow.

Despite most bookies backing Khabib, McGregor simply has more weapons at his disposal and more ways to win.

UFC 229 will end with a new UFC Lightweight Champion.

Prediction: Conor McGregor via KO