Belal Muhammad believes Max Holloway should use takedowns to exploit what he sees as Conor McGregor's cardio limitations, arguing that McGregor's significant muscle gain will cause his gas tank to fade. Muhammad also advises Holloway to stay away from McGregor's left hand for the first three minutes of the fight.
Welterweight contender Belal Muhammad has weighed in on the upcoming lightweight clash between Max Holloway and Conor McGregor, laying out a detailed tactical blueprint he believes could lead to a Holloway victory.
Muhammad, ranked sixth at welterweight and eighth in the pound-for-pound standings, carries a 24-5 record and brings a grappling-heavy perspective to his analysis. The 37-year-old from the United States trains out of Roufusport and averages 2.14 takedowns per 15 minutes — among the higher rates in the sport — making him well-placed to speak on the value of wrestling as a strategic tool.
His central argument is that McGregor's noticeable muscle gain has come at a cost to his conditioning, and that Holloway should look to drag the fight into deeper waters by shooting for takedowns. Muhammad also urges Holloway to exercise patience in the opening exchanges, specifically advising him to avoid McGregor's left hand for the first three minutes before opening up.
McGregor, the 37-year-old Irish southpaw out of SBG Ireland, holds a 22-6 record and carries genuine knockout power, landing 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. His 74-inch reach — longer than both Holloway and Muhammad — makes him a dangerous threat at range, particularly early when his energy levels are highest.
Holloway, ranked fourth at lightweight and ninth pound-for-pound, brings a 27-9 record into the contest. The 34-year-old Hawaiian averages an elite 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. His takedown output is modest at 0.24 per 15 minutes, which means executing Muhammad's game plan would require Holloway to lean into a dimension of his game he does not typically emphasize.
Why it matters
- Muhammad's advice pits Holloway's volume striking against a potential wrestling-based approach
- McGregor's conditioning in the later rounds is framed as the key vulnerability to exploit
- Holloway's relatively low takedown rate raises questions about whether he would commit to such a strategy
