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With the eyes of combat sports fans around the world focusing on Las Vegas this Saturday as UFC star Connor McGregor facing boxing great Floyd Mayweather in what the undefeated Mayweather is stating will be his final boxing match, Vegas odds makers are biting their fingernails about the idea that McGregor could score a massive win, leaving huge payouts to those putting their faith in him.
One WWE performer who has put his faith in the MMA style, infusing his training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, and Muay Thai into his work as a professional wrestler is Samoa Joe, currently enjoying one of the biggest runs of his career at the age of 38. So, when the bell rings for McGregor vs. Mayweather this weekend, who does Joe, a former sparring partner for UFC alumnus Justin McCully have as his prediction for what will likely become one of the biggest pay-per-view spectacles of all time?
"I'm not much different from most people who follow combat sports, " the former ROH, TNA and WWE NXT champion told PWInsider.com this past Friday at the WWE 2K18 launch party in New York City. "I give Connor all the credit in the world. He's a fantastic, fantastic personality and a great MMA fighter. He's a fantastic MMA fighter but you're going up against the best in the world, probably, pound for pound, one of the greatest boxers in the history of the industry and it's tough to bet against that."
When an analogy was made to the infamous Antonio Inoki vs. Muhammad Ali mixed fight in 1976, which bored fans around the world at the time but is now credited with helping to inspire the MMA genre, Joe laughed.
"I think it will be more entertaining than that [fight.] Best of luck to both of them."
Joe, meanwhile, continues to have great luck at excelling at the top of WWE's Raw brand, having just worked the main event of the 2017 Summerslam PPV followed by a main event on Monday Night Raw against John Cena and Roman Reigns. Joe is set to headline a number of Raw live events in the weeks to come against Braun Strowman and Reigns and remains an important figure for WWE's red brand.
As for McGregor and Mayweather, their fortune will be told this Saturday.
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