Artificial Intelligence solves the question we all want answered: Could prime Conor McGregor beat Khabib?

Could a prime Conor McGregor beat Khabib Nurmagomedov in the UFC cage? Artificial Intelligence believes so, despite the fact they fought for the lightweight title in October 2018 and the Dagestani won via fourth-round submission.

The bout at UFC 229 is regarded as the peak of Khabib's career as he ended any and all doubts regarding his status as lightweight champion by beating The Notorious, and quite comfortably too. Known for his grappling, the 36-year-old proved he not only had the edge there but when they traded fists too by flooring the Irishman.

A humiliating defeat after the trash talk in the built up, it effectively started McGregor's decline as he went on to lose two of his three fights afterwards and has since been out of the Octagon for over three years since his last scrap in July 2021.

He has never got over the moment he tapped out, and declared if he could have one dream match then it would be against Khabib. That, however, is off the cards as the Russian retired from fighting in 2021 after the death of his father.

What does AI think would happen?

This is where AI comes in to save the day. The technology rematched the pair in two situations: 2013 and 2016. In 2013, the Dublin man made his debut in the UFC with a first-round TKO against Marcus Brimmage.

By 2016, he defeated Eddie Alvarez to win the lightweight belt for the first time after previously being featherweight king. He was later stripped of the belt for inactivity, before facing Khabib two years later.

AI gives McGregor his best chance in the first two rounds, where he could make the most use of his boxing skills with a sharp jab, quick timing and good footwork. The simulation predicts the Irishman to claim both of these rounds if he avoids a takedown.

But it doesn't rate his chances of a knockout. Despite his talents, Khabib has a granite chin and has walked through power punches before and after McGregor. The chance of a knockout in the opening rounds is considered medium.

If he doesn't do it, then the odds tilt in the favor of the Dagestani. The computer believes he will slowly close the gap to his rival and with superior cardio, eventually turn the contest into a grappling bout.

If that happens, like it did in real life, McGregor will falter to the pressure and lose via third-round submission.