McGregor vs Maia/Palhares/Shields

[BjPenn2016FW]

Would Conor be able to keep the fight standing against grappling monsters?


Only Maia is in the UFC but he is damn close to a 170 lb title shot.
What would happen? I cant see McGregor winning for some reason especially after
watching Maia easily beat Gunnar

 

[muaythaibeast]

A small brown belt isn't beating elite of the elite bigger guys. Shields potentially just blankets him, but Maia and Palhares are finishing him fast.

 

[BjPenn2016FW]

A small brown belt isn't beating elite of the elite bigger guys. Shields potentially just blankets him, but Maia and Palhares are finishing him fast.

but at the same time McGregor could finish them fast...

 

[joeyjoejoe]

Any former middleweight grappling ace would most likely strangle McG

 

[BjPenn2016FW]

Its gonna be very interesting to see McGregors take down defense and ground game at higher weights. Nate will probably not test it too much.... But Dos Anjos/Would will

 

[muaythaibeast]

but at the same time McGregor could finish them fast...

He has a punchers chance at best, and he has to land it before the first takedown. Considering Shields took the H bomb no problem, and Maia has only ever been knocked out by a MW Marquadt monster shot, whilst jumping into it, his chin should hold up fine against a FW. Honestly I'd take Maia at -500 for that fight

 

[gutty333]

Not even on the same level, Conor only knows the good side of fighting. Currently Conor is seen the same way Jon Jones was before he ever faced Alexander. Hard to see why Conor would lose any fight right? but like Jon Jones himself mentioned when you get taken into deep waters, face adversity and exercise that warrior spirit we will all see what Connor is all about. Will he have the heart of Paige Van Zant(positive) or the heart of Sage NorthCutt (negative).
So back to the question I think we should not even compare him to welterweights, specially these elite fighters. Comparisons like Frankie Edgar, Anthony Pettis, etc fit Conor better.

 

[nick1990]

Palhares rips his knee apart before you can say red panties.

 

[INTERL0PER]

I think any of them could beat him. I think Shields would be his worst match up, simply because of his granite chin. I could see Conor using his movement and lengthy striking to beat any of them... but more realistically, they probably grab on to him at some point and it all goes down hill.

But getting grapplefucked by Shields, Maia or Palhares is hardly a black mark against your grappling. You're simply not the best grappler in the world.

 

[HelloJapan]

Palhares rips his knee apart before you can say red panties.

Red pa...damn it.

 

[fortheo]

There's not a man alive at 170lbs that Maia can't take down.

 

[garwoc]

Personally I don't see him surviving against any of them. He could maybe make Palhares panic if he doesn't get him down straight away but outside of that I see them as very bad match ups for Conor.

 

[Kyler Ruxin]

I know this fight is at 170, but it's basically a 155 fight without the weight cut, because of the short notice. Nate got rag-dolled in his two 170 fights, and Conor would be no different. Royce taught the world years ago, if you can't grapple, you can't win. Using defensive grappling to keep the fight standing against someone the same size as you is one thing, but in a fight with someone that is bigger, stronger, and has WAY superior grappling, you have a punchers chance at best, and no chance realistically.

 

[King Bastar]

Not gonna end well for McG.

 

[Fresh Linen]

I think Conor would get smoked by any of those fighters

 

[frandie2b]

There's not a man alive at 170lbs that Maia can't take down.

Agreed. I would've said Askren, but after seeing him get rag dolled by Luis Sapo Santos I definitely think Maia can outgrapple him easily.

 

[Drake]

A small brown belt isn't beating elite of the elite bigger guys. Shields potentially just blankets him, but Maia and Palhares are finishing him fast.

I think Shields would finish him too.

 

[Drake]

There's not a man alive at 170lbs that Maia can't take down.

Bold!!

 

[Bmurray]

He'll fight strikers at 170, which is why Robbie is so appealing.

He can overcome a size disparity as long as it stays standing.

Taking on larger wrestlers or grapplers would be a mistake beyond GSP (because $$$)

 

[MechMA]

If I was Conor the only fights I'd take at 170 are Lawler and GSP return

Anyone else isn't worth it.

The Nate fight isn't against a 170er... Its a 155 fight without weight cut