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'Conor McGregor is the Zlatan Ibrahimovic of MMA' - Manchester United striker backs Irishman to KO Mayweather
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has called Conor McGregor 'the Ibrahimovic of the martial arts world' and has backed the Irishman to beat Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
McGregor will make his professional boxing debut against the undefeated Mayweather at the T-Mobile Arena and Ibrahimovic believes the 29-year-old could upset the odds.
The striker recently re-signed for Manchester United on a new one-year deal after being released earlier this summer due to injury.
Speaking in an interview with Sport Bible to mark his return to the Premier League, the 35-year-old gave his take on the biggest sporting event of the year.
"Here you have a guy that has made a career out of many years and that is Mayweather.
"And then you have the other guy that has made a career in a short time, but he made himself a big name.
"Me as a huge fan of the MMA, I see this fight. I don’t know. It can go both ways. Either what people predict that Mayweather will win easy, which I don’t believe.
"Conor has a power he can knock you out from every angle. And he has a confidence, like me.
"He is the Ibrahimović of martial arts and I’m McGregor of the football world.
"So I see him with his confidence. He will win. Because he believes in himself so much and like I say, in everything you do the mental part is 50%.
"If you have the mental, the head, you can do it and achieve. And then at the same time he’s skilful, he is the one he is. So I believe in Conor!”
Ibrahimovic is continuing injury rehabilitation on a knee injury that sidelined him in April earlier this year.