Belal Muhammad Outlines Unconventional Grappling Path for Max Holloway to Conquer Conor McGregor at UFC 329

As the highly anticipated rematch between Max Holloway and Conor McGregor approaches at UFC 329 this Saturday, the conventional wisdom points to a stand-up war between two of the sport’s most celebrated strikers. However, top UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad, known as "Remember the Name," has offered a surprising tactical blueprint for Holloway to avenge his 2013 loss: incorporate a robust grappling strategy to exploit McGregor’s potential vulnerabilities after a significant layoff.

Muhammad, sharing his insights on his YouTube channel, suggested that Holloway might need to deviate from his striking-heavy reputation and integrate his full mixed martial arts skillset to overcome the former two-division champion. While both Holloway and McGregor are renowned for their highlight-reel knockouts and dynamic striking exchanges, Muhammad believes that a strategic shift towards grappling could be the key to unlocking victory for "Blessed."

"Max, last fight, obviously lost to [Charles] Oliveira, got taken down a lot, got held down a lot, controlled on the ground," Muhammad stated, referencing the strategic challenges grapplers can pose to Holloway. While Holloway’s most recent outing saw him claim the "BMF" championship with a spectacular knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, a fight where he also defended against some takedown attempts, his 2020 bout with Oliveira did see him lose by decision. Holloway has historically showcased strong defensive grappling, maintaining fights on the feet, yet his offensive grappling remains a less utilized weapon, with only two submission victories across his 27 career wins.

Muhammad contended that McGregor is unlikely to initiate grappling exchanges, particularly given his recent physical transformation. "I don’t think we’re going to see any of that with McGregor, so I think it’s all going to take [place] primarily on the feet," Muhammad observed. "I think the probably the person that should initiate the grappling should be Holloway."

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The strategic recommendation by Muhammad is rooted in a critical assessment of McGregor’s current state, particularly after an extended period of inactivity. "We don’t know where McGregor is. He’s definitely added a lot of muscle on his body, so his cardio’s going to get trained," Muhammad explained. "So for Holloway, I would definitely add in a takedown to wear on him, to get past that first three or four minutes. I think that first three or four minutes, McGregor’s going to come out hot."

Conor McGregor, "The Notorious," boasts a professional record of 22 wins and 6 losses in mixed martial arts. He is widely recognized for his historic achievement as the first UFC fighter to simultaneously hold championship belts in two different weight divisions (featherweight and lightweight). His last professional fight took place in July 2021, where he suffered a leg break in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier, resulting in a TKO loss. This injury initiated a hiatus of over five years from active competition, marking the longest break in his career. During this period, McGregor has frequently showcased a significantly bulked-up physique, indicating a potential move to the welterweight division (170 lbs) for future contests, including this rematch against Holloway.

Holloway, with a record of 25 wins and 8 losses, is a former UFC Featherweight Champion known for his relentless pace, exceptional striking volume, and iron chin. His recent victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April 2024, a fifth-round knockout that earned him the "BMF" title, cemented his status as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound elite and was widely praised as a ‘Fight of the Year’ contender. Prior to this, Holloway secured victories over Arnold Allen and ‘The Korean Zombie’ Chan Sung Jung, demonstrating his continued dominance in the featherweight division.

The initial encounter between Holloway and McGregor occurred on August 17, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 26, contested at featherweight. McGregor secured a unanimous decision victory in a bout where he sustained a knee injury in the second round. Following the injury, McGregor strategically employed grappling to control Holloway and secure the win, showcasing a facet of his game that he has less frequently displayed in subsequent fights. Ironically, Muhammad doesn’t anticipate seeing that well-rounded version of McGregor this time around.

Muhammad’s skepticism regarding McGregor’s cardio is a recurring theme, particularly with the added muscle mass and the higher weight class. "He knows, when he was at the top, his cardio was a problem. Now five years off, extra muscle, higher weight class, I think his cardio’s going to be even a bigger problem," Muhammad asserted. "So for Holloway, survive those first two, three minutes, even initiating the clinch, just stay away from the left hand. Even if you don’t believe it, even if you don’t think he still has it, just stay away. There’s no need, it’s a 25-minute fight."

The uncertainty surrounding McGregor’s form after such a prolonged absence is a major talking point in the lead-up to UFC 329. Muhammad openly questioned which version of "The Notorious" will step into the octagon. "Long five years, a crazy five years if you’re living the McGregor lifestyle," Muhammad remarked. "So which Conor are we going to see back in this cage? Obviously, the last time we saw him, Dustin broke his leg, so just coming back from that is going to be hard, but coming back from that, then coming back from drugs, then coming back from partying, then coming back from probably not doing anything sort of training at all the last five years, which McGregor is going to show up?"

Muhammad emphasized that the true measure of McGregor’s readiness will only become apparent once the fight is underway. "I don’t think we’re going to know until the cage door locks and we see at least three minutes, then we’ll have an idea of which McGregor we got. Is he still there, does he still have any fight left in him, does he still have any motivation left in him? He can talk the talk, we know he can talk, but fight night is where we see if he still has it."

Despite advising a grappling-centric approach for Holloway, Muhammad does not envision "Blessed" merely wrestling his way to a decision. Instead, he believes that if the fight extends beyond the initial minutes, Holloway’s superior conditioning and sustained pressure will lead to a decisive victory.

"For my pick, I’m going with Holloway," Muhammad declared. "I think five years off, five years of drugs, five years of recovery, it’s going way too much for McGregor to come back."

Muhammad also highlighted Holloway’s current momentum and motivation. "Holloway’s hot, I think he’s going to be motivated after that loss and more motivated now even after Justin won that fight knowing that a bigger fight will be on the horizon." The "bigger fight" alluded to could be a potential lightweight title shot or another high-profile bout, further fueling Holloway’s drive.

Ultimately, Muhammad predicted a finish for the Hawaiian fighter. "I’m picking Holloway and going with finish. I think he’s going to hurt him to the body, catch him up top, and I’m going to go with TKO."

The implications of this main event are significant for both fighters. For Max Holloway, a victory over Conor McGregor, especially in such a high-profile rematch, would solidify his legacy, potentially setting him up for a challenge at lightweight or a defense of his "BMF" title. For Conor McGregor, a win would mark a triumphant return to form, re-establishing his relevance at the elite level and opening doors to further lucrative matchups, potentially even a welterweight title pursuit. Conversely, a loss for either fighter could drastically alter their career trajectory in the competitive landscape of the UFC. The tactical battle, as outlined by Belal Muhammad, promises to be as compelling as the physical confrontation itself.

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