Prime Connor McGregor vs Max Holloway at lightweight.

I still think Holloway will outlast him. Unless McGregor can get 1 or 2 knockdowns in the first 2 rounds, i don't see him being able to sustain the work rate for 5 rounds. He barely beat Diaz in the rematch. He ain't beating Holloway.

 

That was at 170. This thread is about McGregor vs. Holloway at Lightweight. Compare McGregors cardio in the Diaz fights and how long he lasted vs. a prime Khabib. He actually won a round and lasted all the way to the 4th round. McGregors punches are way faster and snappier at 155. If he can last that long and have success that no one else has had against a prime Khabib(coming off 2 years out of MMA mind you) I don't think going 5 rounds and getting the better against a fellow striker is that much of a stretch. McGregor always having **** cardio is a myth. At 170 with excess muscle he did yes. At 145-155 his cardio was fine.

 

He did not have bad cardio but it wasn't great either.

Against Khabib his punches had no snap in the 3rd round. Khabib was standing toe to toe with him. And McGregor couldn't do much except outpoint him.

Holloway had elite stamina. Again, could Connor win? sure. But he would need 1 or 2 knockdowns in a 5 round lightweight fight. Hard to see him being able to cope with Max's volume in rounds 3, 4 and 5. While his cardio was fine, it was never as elite as Max's.

 

Dustin did and Gaethje was able to fight almost 5 rounds with a shattered nose which clearly impacted his pace and cardio. Max cant style on guys at 155 like he did at 145. 155ers are bigger, stronger, punch harder it's always been an issue for him to deal with. Max is going to get beaten up badly for the first few rounds even if he doesn't get finished. Prime Conor was too fast, dynamic and powerful for him.

 

You could be right. But on the other hand, who did Conor stop at 155? guys like Dustin and Justin proved they could carry their power at 155. Connor didn't, except vs a very limited Eddie Alvarez. Do you think Connor could hit as hard at 155 as he did at 145? if so, he could beat Max. But i am not sure.

 

He still hit hard enough at 155. Remember Alvarez stopped Gaethje not too long after that fight and was taking it to Poirier before unfortunately landing the illegal knee.

 

McConnor McGregor beats him.

 

I re-watched almost all McGregor´s fights leading up to this one, and his cardio is such an oddity. Its clear that he hits a wall, and relatively fast, but then his cardio stops depleting. He goes from 100% to like 70%, and then stays there.
In the Diaz rematch McGregor was straight up running from Diaz, then turned around and outworked Diaz! Like wtf?

Against Khabib he got tired too, it was evident in how he started the second round, yet the moment Khabib slowed down it was McGregor who took over. And in the 4th round McGregor was still holding his own, cardio wise being no worse than he was in the 3rd round.