Live Chat: Khabib vs. McGregor, UFC 227 PPV buys, backup fighters, Tony Ferguson, more

This is the new A-Side Live Chat Podcast on MMA Fighting.

Today on the show, we’ll talk Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor with UFC 229 ticket prices being announced Tuesday. What kind of gate should the card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas garner? How good is the undercard? Is Khabib vs. McGregor the biggest UFC fight of all-time?

We’ll also discuss the surprisingly solid UFC 227 pay-per-view buy numbers. What do they mean? Can we attribute the statistics to any fighter in particular? Is this a good omen for the UFC moving forward?

In addition, the UFC seems to be adding backup fighters to key fights as a new trend. Kamaru Usman said on The MMA Hour this week that he will be weighing in at UFC 228 in case Tyron Woodley and Darren Till cannot make weight or make the cage in their welterweight title fight. Is this a wise practice?

There is also Bellator 204 on Friday night from Sioux Falls, S.D., headlined by a featherweight bout between bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell taking on Noad Lahat. PFL 6 is Thursday night in Atlantic City as Ray Cooper III tries to build on his stunning knockout win over Jake Shields.

There is plenty to talk about, so join us to discuss all of the above and much more. All is up for discussion, but we’ll lead off with this. The chat will start at our time of 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.

Like Luke Thomas before us, we’ll post the video window as the event draws near and answer any questions you might have if you post them in the comments below. For the comments you deem the most deserving, please click the “rec” button. Comments in green will get first priority.

Please link this page and use the hashtags #theaside or #chatwrappers on Twitter when you’re watching to tell everyone you’re taking part with us.