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McGregor (22-6) returns to action after a five-year hiatus from the Ultimate Fighting Championship in a welterweight matchup against Holloway (27-9) in the main event of UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While Muhammad foresees a striking-heavy bout, he believes Holloway should be the one to initiate wrestling against the returning former two-division champion.
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Belal Muhammad explains why Max Holloway should wrestle Conor McGregor early at UFC 329
Muhammad notes that McGregor’s form, speed and power are unknown after his long layoff. The former welterweight champion believes “Notorious” could still pose a serious knockout threat in the first two to three minutes, especially considering his move up to 170 pounds.
The 37-year-old also believes the Irish superstar’s gas tank, which was an issue even in his prime, will be an even bigger factor now.
“I think that first three or four minutes, McGregor’s gonna come out hot,” Muhammad said on his YouTube channel. “When he was at the top, his cardio was a problem. So now, five years off, extra muscle, higher weight class, I think his cardio’s gonna be even a bigger problem.”
According to Muhammad, Holloway should clinch and wrestle McGregor early in the fight to just stay safe.
“I think probably the person that should initiate grappling should be Holloway… [McGregor] has definitely added a lot of muscle on his body. His cardio is gonna get drained,” he added. “So, for Holloway, I would definitely add in a takedown to wear on him. To get past the first three to four minutes.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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