Have your thoughts of McGregor's chances at LW changed? (The Real Facts Inside).

[legkicktko]

There are several aspects of McGregor's game that have changed for me after his fight with Nate. There are facets of his game that were severely blown out of proportion. Among those:

• His punching power. Having KO'd Aldo so quickly led everyone to forget that Siver, Brandao, Mendes, Brimage, etc, all took several shots cleanly before getting finished. It was being implied that if Conor lets Dos Anjos feel the wind off of his left Rafael would be KO'd. Nate proved that while Conor's power does translate, it is not exactly an automatic killshot against the LW division.
• His TDD Defense. Many of his fans were clinging to the idea that his TDD was indeed godly but against Mendes, he was walking into the octagon on one leg and that's why Mendes was able to secure top control. Nate Diaz took him down off a single leg in the first round, before Conor was tired. This and the ability to hold him against the cage without being reversed is super concerning. Nate's TD Accuracy stands at a whopping 32%, which is significantly less than the accuracy of the more powerful Khabib and Rafael Dos Anjos level wrestlers of the division.
• His chin. Conor has a good chin, but I was sick of seeing him included in the goat discussions for taking shots. Diaz is not pillow fisted as many fans implied before the fight, but his power is certainly more forgiving than most of the other strikers in the top 10. In addition, it makes you respect guys like Michael Johnson more who took far more punishment over three rounds without going down.

Ultimately, Conor has potential. But he is in need of far more work than most anticipated. I vomit a little in my mouth when I read things like:

"Diaz is the worst matchup in the division".

You all said he was among the easiest before the fight, and you weren't wrong. Diaz obliged Conor in a fire fight with little to no movement or defense and he did not act upon his threat of the takedown. Diaz is a guy who relies on cardio (which he did not have on 10 days notice) and tends to block punches with his face. It doesn't get any more favorable of a matchup than that in the LW top 10. When you say that Pettis or RDA couldn't take the same punches, you may be right, but they also wouldn't need to. Diaz is one of the only guys in the division who was willing to stand right in front of him and fight Conor at his own strength and he still stopped him in the second round.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

Conor needs to stay at 145. A guy like MJ can beat him. Not a good look for someone trying to proclaim himself as a game changer.

 

[Ceez]

Honestly I never thought he had a good chance at LW. If you don't have a wrestling base or a strong TDD you will never do well. Look at Anthony Pettis, awesome striker no wrestling and it's bit him in the ass over and over

 

[OverhandRight]

I think Conor should stay at 155. Its what he really wants anyway. He should fight somebody outside of the top 10 then work his way up to a championship fight if he make it. I dont think him fighting at 145 is good for him or his career. The weight cut is too much, eventually its going to catch up with him. Eventually one of those guys is going to take him to R3+ and hes going to gas. You cant cut weight like that and expect to have good cardio.

TLDR: He should suck it up and train for 155.

 

[Fatal Catro]

I maintained that he would be hard pressed to find success fighting anyone in the top 5 of that division and nothing has changed.

 

[Spiderbite]

So what you are saying is: now that THIS fight is over and you know how it ended you're willing to say all of those things were blown out of proportion. Way to lay it all on the line man.

Why didn't you just start another account like all the other Nostradamus' in here.

I did however get a chuckle at your synopsis of his punching power. These guys all took his shots before getting KO'd LOL

 

[Spiderbite]

Honestly I never thought he had a good chance at LW. If you don't have a wrestling base or a strong TDD you will never do well. Look at Anthony Pettis, awesome striker no wrestling and it's bit him in the ass over and over

Or.........Like Diaz?

 

[Perrichet]

My thoughts is that he'd barely be a top 10 LW.

His ground game is awful. Frankie would expose it again if Conor ever decides to fight him

 

[Oicho Throw]

A huge amount of his [admittedly, pretty rad] striking game depends on having that height and reach, to bait dudes into eating counter straights and uppercuts. At 155, he's less likely to have the height advantage. Also at 155 there's a lot more tiny angry wrestlemen, who'd shove him into the cage and stop him from setting the range and tempo.

He's still a good, possibly even great, fighter, but at 155 he wouldn't be the big noise he is at 145. Maybe once he gets a bit older and fills out a little.

 

[Apocalypse604]

Never thought he had a good chance at lw at any point.

 

[AMST Vallon]

Just look at how much he was ready to load up on a left uppercut before getting stung with a 1-2, pathetic gameplan from McG going into that fight thinking he would get through it with his power alone

 

[Fatal Catro]

I think Conor should stay at 155. Its what he really wants anyway. He should fight somebody outside of the top 10 then work his way up to a championship fight if he make it. I dont think him fighting at 145 is good for him or his career. The weight cut is too much, eventually its going to catch up with him. Eventually one of those guys is going to take him to R3+ and hes going to gas. You cant cut weight like that and expect to have good cardio.

TLDR: He should suck it up and train for 155.

I agree, and there is really no need to give the guy a title shot there, but he can certainly work his way up.
Ideally I would like to see him defend his belt at 145, however as he seems to grow with each passing fight, the cut might prove too detrimental.

 

[legkicktko]

So what you are saying is: now that THIS fight is over and you know how it ended you're willing to say all of those things were blown out of proportion. Way to lay it all on the line man.

Why didn't you just start another account like all the other Nostradamus' in here.

I did however get a chuckle at your synopsis of his punching power. These guys all took his shots before getting KO'd LOL

My post is crystal clear, and if you care to, look through my history how I made a thread right after Mcgregor-Aldo where I specifically said (unknowingly that they would fight) that Nate would be the best striker Conor has ever fought. I was laughed at.

 

[Jet40]

If the UFC ever matches Frankie Edgar up with Mcgregor we will have a new 145 champ. Conor has a glaring hole in his game. When he faces a wrestler that won't gas he will lose.

 

[McGrubie]

I think he'll still do well at lightweight.

 

[legkicktko]

I think he'll still do well at lightweight.

I don't doubt that he could do well with a real camp, but I was sick of seeing "no striker from 145-170 has anything for Conor."

 

[Paynebringer]

How long did he think he was gonna get away with a tool bag that only carries a left hand? The road gets bumpy from here on in as guys start taking notes on Conor it doesn't matter if it's Frankie or Jose @145 he will hard pressed to repeat his 1st performance against Aldo.
Or giving a hungry Edgar a shot mad ti get his money & respect in the game, I see three fight skid coming 1 down 2 to go...

 

[Kryptt]

I was willing to watch him rematch Aldo before and that hasn't much changed - rather see other 145 honestly or 155 fights if/when he ventures that way again. But let him figure out where he is at - prolly can't sit much longer without defending the 145 anyhow. I can see waiting for the one fight but take don't shut the division down.