UFC 229 has finally arrived, with the UFC pay-per-view set to go down Saturday night inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main event scheduled for the card is one of the biggest that the sport has ever seen, with Conor McGregor set to return from a lengthy absence to challenge reigning lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. When these two get their hands on one another, it will be a big-fight feel the likes of which UFC only enjoys on some very rare occasions.  

The history between these two is a strange one, as they once respected one another but now despise the sight of each other. The hatred reached a new level this past April when, prior to UFC 223, McGregor and his lads stormed the Barclays Center, and the former double-champ threw a dolly at a bus carrying Nurmagomedov. 

On top of the great main event, UFC 229 also provides a look at the state of the lightweight division and much more. Here's the full fight card with the latest odds from Bovada.

UFC 229 fight card, odds

FavoriteUnderdogWeight Class

Khabib Nurmagomedov (c) -160 

Conor McGregor +140

Lightweight title

Tony Ferguson -350

Anthony Pettis +265

Lightweight

Dominick Reyes -210Ovince Saint Preux +170Light heavyweight

Alexander Volkov -185

Derrick Lewis +150

Heavyweight

Felice Herrig -130

Michelle Waterson +100

Women's strawweight

Sergio Pettis -150

Jussier Formiga +120

Flyweight

Vincente Luque -800Jalin Turner +500

Bantamweight

Aspen Ladd -165

Tonya Evinger +135

Women's bantamweight

Yana Kunitskaya -190

Lina Lansberg +155

Women's bantamweight

Alan Patrick -260 Scott Holtzman +200
Lightweight
Nik Lentz -230 
Gray Maynard +180
Lightweight
Ryan LaFlare -140Tony Martin +110Welterweight

With a big card on tap, our experts took a crack at picking each of the main card fights. Here are your pick makers: Brian Campbell (combat sports writer), Matthew Coca (producer), Michael Mormile (producer), Jack Jorgensen (editor) and Brandon Wise (editor). 

UFC 229 predictions        

FightCampbellMormileCocaJorgensenWise

Khabib (c) vs. McGregor

McGregor

McGregor

McGregor McGregor Khabib
Ferguson vs. Pettis Ferguson Ferguson Ferguson Ferguson Pettis
Reyes vs. Saint Preux Reyes OSP OSP OSP OSP
Volkov vs. Lewis Lewis Volkov Lewis Volkov Lewis
Herrig vs. Waterson Herrig Waterson Waterson Herrig Herrig
Overall (2018) 24-25-0 27-22-0 26-23-0 24-25-0 29-20-0

Campbell on why McGregor wins: Questions as to whether McGregor is still hungry enough despite his wealth to accept a challenge as dangerous as Nurmagomedov were seemingly answered by his willingness to accept the fight when he didn't have to. What that shows is that he sees something. For all the talk that Khabib's aggressive wrestling style is all kinds of wrong for McGregor (and make no mistake, it is) let's not forget how perfectly vulnerable Nurmagomedov could end up being for counter left hands as he shoots in. Outside of the two Nate Diaz fights at welterweight, McGregor has finished seven of the eight opponents he has faced in the Octagon and each time with punches. McGregor enters this fight with something to prove and that's a dangerous equation for Nurmagomedov, who may be dominant on the ground but lacks a similar record of finishes. 

Wise on why Khabib wins: Tread lightly, my friend. Take all the bluster and brashness from McGregor you want, but the man has a clear weakness that sets up for exactly the style that "The Eagle" brings to this grudge match. McGregor's three losses in the Octagon have all come via submission stoppage, each after the fight has been taken to the ground. The comparisons to the Chad Mendes fight for McGregor have been made ad nauseam, but I think Khabib has another trick up his sleeve here. McGregor will try to keep the distance with his jab and heavy left hand, but Russian robot will continue to plod forward with constant pressure and secure the takedowns needed to finish McGregor with some hammer fists.

Jorgensen on why Ferguson wins: "El Cucuy" is back, and I could not be happier about that fact. Now is he back too soon? That we don't know, but he will have to protect that knee he injured back in spring, as Pettis will obviously make that a prime target with his kicks. I think Ferguson will be able to keep those attempts at bay, though, and extend that record lightweight winning streak he still has going for him. Ferguson via submission when the fight gets to the ground, and then it'll be on to face the winner of the main event at some point down the road.

Wise on why Pettis wins: Welcome back to Showtime. The former lightweight champion is suddenly in a great position to snag a shot at the winner of the main event on Saturday. In a fight that will likely end up in a wrestling match with Ferguson's extensive ground and submission game, give me the guy that didn't suffer a freak knee injury six months earlier and who is used to having a bright spotlight on him in an event of this magnitude. Pettis may not be the flying headkick off the cage anymore, but he's still one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world.