let's be honest... he's not going to survive at the top of the 155lb division unless he changes his game. He just barely got by the 155lb gatekeeper after being choked out by him.
He's got about 8 minutes of stand up in his gas tank... He seems to rest and recuperate when grappling. He resorted to grapling against holloway when he couldnt put him away in the first 2 rounds.
He should begin fights doing both and continue to do both in every round. 2 minutes of striking per round and 3 minutes of grappling.
That should solve the cardio issue somewhat but this also means he's going to have to be able to outgrapple his opponents to win fights.
at 155 that's going to be improbable.
At 145 I dont even like his chances in a 5 round fight against a guy like max holloway who has a great chin and has improved greatly.
If nate exposed 8 minute conor other fighters are going to take advantage of it.
He needs to sharpen his game to the point that the fight never gets past 3 rounds. It can be done. His first round pressure needs to be more not less. He fought fine vs. Nate.
155 lbs. is the toughest division in MMA. I like Conor @ 145 lbs. muscling everyone around with killshots.
CRE - He needs to sharpen his game to the point that the fight never gets past 3 rounds. It can be done. His first round pressure needs to be more not less. He fought fine vs. Nate.
155 lbs. is the toughest division in MMA. I like Conor @ 145 lbs. muscling everyone around with killshots.
OP, he is never going to fight another fighter with a higher pace and better cardio than Nate Diaz. He's good.
Just because his cardio looked sketch in past doesn't mean it'll always be sketch. He's still learning / growing as a fighter. Remember Aldo used to gas and lost round 4-5's but that's no longer an issue.
CaliKush - Just because his cardio looked sketch in past doesn't mean it'll always be sketch. He's still learning / growing as a fighter. Remember Aldo used to gas and lost round 4-5's but that's no longer an issue.
But he made it there without breathing insanely heavy and turning his back on his opponent with his hands on his waists looking at the clock and then resetting. Even then, the few times Aldo did gas he had actually won one or two of those later rounds like against Mark Hominick (he lost the fifth but bludgeoned him the fourth).
Using the Hollaway fight as an example of him gassing is ridiculous. There's no shortage of pages online talking about how he tore his cruciate in the second round. Silly fellow.
JohnBox - Using the Hollaway fight as an example of him gassing is ridiculous. There's no shortage of pages online talking about how he tore his cruciate in the second round. Silly fellow.
I like Conor at 145lbs. He's the boss there but that 4th round in the rematch with Nate is what legends are made of. Still thought he lost that fight though.
CaliKush - Just because his cardio looked sketch in past doesn't mean it'll always be sketch. He's still learning / growing as a fighter. Remember Aldo used to gas and lost round 4-5's but that's no longer an issue.
But he made it there without breathing insanely heavy and turning his back on his opponent with his hands on his waists looking at the clock and then resetting. Even then, the few times Aldo did gas he had actually won one or two of those later rounds like against Mark Hominick (he lost the fifth but bludgeoned him the fourth).
Mark Hominick does not, cannot, never could set the pace Diaz did.
CRE - He needs to sharpen his game to the point that the fight never gets past 3 rounds. It can be done. His first round pressure needs to be more not less. He fought fine vs. Nate.
155 lbs. is the toughest division in MMA. I like Conor @ 145 lbs. muscling everyone around with killshots.
CaliKush - Just because his cardio looked sketch in past doesn't mean it'll always be sketch. He's still learning / growing as a fighter. Remember Aldo used to gas and lost round 4-5's but that's no longer an issue.
But he made it there without breathing insanely heavy and turning his back on his opponent with his hands on his waists looking at the clock and then resetting. Even then, the few times Aldo did gas he had actually won one or two of those later rounds like against Mark Hominick (he lost the fifth but bludgeoned him the fourth).
Mark Hominick does not, cannot, never could set the pace Diaz did.
the thing is now every fighter knows about 8 minute conor whereas before they didnt. He's still a great fighter but it becomes a different play ground once you're exposed.
